Hepatocyte proliferation and serum hepatocyte growth factor levels in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

Background/methods: Hepatocyte growth factor is thought to be important in stimulating growth of the liver following injury. In this study we have measured serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor together with hepatocyte proliferation in liver biopsies, by detection of the Ki-67 antigen, in 23 patients with alcoholic hepatitis.
Results: Serum hepatocyte growth factor was elevated in all patients (median 0.9 ng/ml; range 0.6-7.7 ng/ml; normal < 0.5 ng/ml) and there was a positive correlation between hepatocyte growth factor levels and hepatocyte proliferation in the biopsies.
Conclusions: These results demonstrate that in acute alcoholic hepatitis the liver proliferates in response to injury and suggest that hepatocyte growth factor may be one of the growth factors responsible for this proliferative activity.