Abstract
Acute serum levels of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were studied in 6 clinical groups with (i) gastroenteritis, (ii) skin and soft tissue infection, (iii) urinary tract infection, (iv) septicemia, (v) influenza, and (vi) chronic hepatitis C in comparison with a normal control group using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. We found that serum HGF levels were significantly higher in patients with acute infectious diseases (p <0.0001) compared to patients with chronic viral hepatitis and healthy controls. Serum HGF and CRP levels were correlated significantly (r = 0.65, p < 10-7). We conclude that serum HGF levels are elevated in patients with acute infectious diseases.