Why fibrosis accumulates
Connective tissue in the liver is not only formed, but also destroyed by enzymes - matrix metalloproteinases. Fibrosis accumulates when this destruction is suppressed. TIMP-1 is precisely the main inhibitor of these enzymes: its increase means that the balance has shifted towards the accumulation of scar tissue. That is why the marker complements the other two components of the ELF test: hyaluronic acid shows the volume of accumulated matrix, P3NP - synthesis activity, and TIMP-1 - blockade of decay. The joint assessment of the three indicators with the calculation of the ELF index allows us to reliably separate patients with minimal fibrosis from those with severe fibrosis or cirrhosis, who require active treatment and observation.
How to prepare to donate blood
- on an empty stomach 8–12 hours, you can drink water
- Eliminate alcohol and intense exercise per day
- no smoking in an hour
- donate blood before physiotherapy, x-rays and massage
- Take medications in advance by agreeing with your doctor
How to read the result
Reference values depend on the method and equipment of the laboratory, so it is correct to compare results only within the same laboratory. A deviation of a few percent from the normal limit in itself rarely matters - the overall picture and dynamics are important.
The analysis must be interpreted by a doctor: an isolated indicator without a clinical context is often misleading and leads to unnecessary examinations.