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Plasma TGF-beta 1 levels increase in parallel with the histological degree of necroinflammation and of liver fibrosis [97]. Patients with no progression of fibrosis have significantly lower (59 ng/mL +/- 22) TGF-beta serum levels than patients with progressive disease (115 ng/mL +/- 20) [98]. A TGF-beta level below 75 ng/mL was predictive for stable disease [98]. Among biochemical markers of liver injury, a significant correlation with TGF-beta 1 and TIMP-1 was demonstrated in respect to aminotransferase activities (r = 0.62) [93]. Plasma TGF-beta 1 levels positively correlate with blood levels of PIIIP and IV-C [97]. These results suggest that plasma TGF-beta 1 level is a useful marker in assessing the situation of liver active fibrogenesis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, and could be suggested for use as a possible early non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis useful for CHC management [97].