Progression of fibrosis in hepatitis C with and without schistosomiasis: correlation with serum markers of fibrosis.

Serial liver biopsies are the gold standard by which the progression of fibrosis is evaluated. This longitudinal cohort study assessed the different rates in the progression of fibrosis using serial liver biopsies and serum fibrosis markers YKL-40 and PIIINP and the cytokines, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNuF-alpha). A 10-year cohort study was performed in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) alone or HCV and schistosomiasis.