Objective To explore the role of serum fibrotic indices including hyaluronic acid （HA）

procollagen type III NH

2-terminal peptide （PCIIIP）

and laminin （LN） in assessing the severity of myocardial fibrosis in chronic congestive heart failure （CHF）.Methods Serum levels of HA

PCIIIP

and LN in 39 patients with CHF[14 with New York Heart Association （NYHA） functional class II

21 with class III

4 with class IV]and in 46 patients with NYHA functional class I were assessed by radioimmunoassay.Results The serum concentrations of HA

PCIIIP

and LN were 359.75±84.59 μg/L

77.88±24.67 μg/L

86.73±23.90 μg/L in CHF group

and 211.60±54.80 μg/L

64.82±23.99 μg/L

82.26±23.98 μg/L in NYHA functional class I group

respectively. The HA level was significantly higher in CHF patients as compared with NYHA functional class I group （P

<

0.05）. However

no difference was found in the levels of PCIIIP and LN between CHF group and NYHA functional class I group. The serum HA concentration was negatively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction （r=-0.71

P

<

0.05）.Conclusion Serum HA level may act as an indicator for myocardial fibrosis.