PIIINP (PROCOLLAGEN TYPE III AMINO TERMINAL PROPEPTIDE)

PROCOLLAGEN TYPE III AMINO TERMINAL PROPEPTIDE (PIIINP) HAS BEEN USED IN ASSESSMENT OF LIVER FIBROSIS, AS IT IS A MARKER OF EARLY FIBROGENESIS AND INFLAMMATION. METHOTREXATE (MTX) IS A WIDELY USED DRUG FOR THE TREATMENT OF PSORIASIS AND OTHER DERMATOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. MTX HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED TO BE HEPATOTOXIC WHICH LIMITS IT S THERAPEUTIC USE. THUS, MONITORING OF LIVER FOR STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL DAMAGE IS RECOMMENDED BEFORE AND DURING TREATMENT WITH MTX. PIIINP TEST CAN BE USED TO ASSESS MTX INDUCED LIVER TOXICITY, ESPECIALLY IN HIGH-RISK INDIVIDUALS LIKE PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME, NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE, EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION AND CHRONIC HEPATITIS B & C. THIS TEST HAS A SENSITIVITY OF 77% AND SPECIFICITY OF 92% IN ASSESSMENT OF LIVER TOXICITY IN MTX TREATED PATIENTS WITH PSORIASIS.