الفهرس 
IntroductionOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
We conducted this study to estimate the plasma level of MMP9 in cirrhotic, HCV positive patients and to determinate if it can serve as useful new marker of hepatic fibrosis by correlation of these levels with liver function testes and disease severity, and also to evaluate the clinical significance of MMP9 as beneficial prognostic tumor marker in hepatocellular carcinoma patients. This study was conducted on 41 HCV positive patients including 21 cases with cirrhosis and 20 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma. Beside twenty apparently healthy individuals of matched age and sex served as a control group. All cases and control were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, and laboratory investigations, and determination of plasma level of MMP9 by the (Total) Quantikine ELISA kit. Sampling: 10 ml venous blood was withdrawn from each case, then the plasma were collected on ice using heparin as an anticoagulant and Centrifuged For 15 minutes at 1000<U+00D7>g within 30 minutes of collection and additional centrifugation step of the plasma at 10.000<U+00D7>g for 10 minutes at 28 (R@ (BC was performed for complete platelet removal. The results of assessment of our patients revealed that plasma MMP9 levels were highly significantly decreased in patients with cirrhosis compared to control and hepatoma groups, and show more decrease with the progression of the liver disease as indicated by liver function tests, and ChildPugh score. Plasma MMP9 levels were highly significantly increased in hepatoma group compared to control and cirrhotic groups, and show more increase with disease progression as indicated by liver function tests, U/S, and clinical manifestations of liver disease as jaundice, bleeding tendency, spider naevi, clubbing, tremors, encephalopathy, edema, liver tenderness and ascites. Conclusions: MMP9 assay in plasma can be used as a marker of hepatic fibrosis and it can be used to follow up the progress of liver disease and the severity of cirrhosis in HCV patients, also as a novel marker for HCC, particularly for metastatic potential or for ongoing activity of vascular invasion. So, it could be used for early detection of HCC by periodic follow up of its level in cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis.