Clinical diagnosis of hepatic fibrosis using a novel panel of low abundant human plasma protein biomarkers

A method of diagnosing hepatic fibrosis, comprising:

• a) obtaining a biological sample from a patient in need thereof;
• b) determining in the biological sample a level of at least two HF-associated polypeptides, wherein said at least HF-associated polypeptides comprise hemopexin and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein;
• and
• c) comparing said determined level to a respective control level to determine a positive or a negative diagnosis of said hepatic fibrosis.

A method of determining prognosis of hepatic fibrosis, comprising:

• a) obtaining a biological sample from a patient in need thereof;
• b) determining in the biological sample a level of at least two HF-associated polypeptides, wherein said at least HF-associated polypeptides comprise hemopexin and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein;
• and
• c) comparing said determined level to a respective control level to determine a positive or a negative prognosis of said hepatic fibrosis.

A method of scaling the severity of hepatic fibrosis comprising:

• a) obtaining a biological sample from a patient in need thereof;
• b) determining in the biological sample a level of at least two HF-associated polypeptides, wherein said at least HF-associated polypeptides comprise hemopexin and alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein;
• and
• c) comparing said determined level to a respective predetermines level in a population of patients ranging from no fibrosis to cirrhosis.