BACKGROUND/AIMS: Measurement of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin by conventional methods is of limited use for the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma for its low sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of measuring des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin by a highly sensitive assay for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease and for the detection of recurrence after treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODOLOGY: Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin levels by a sensitive assay and alpha-fetoprotein levels were sequentially measured in 188 patients with type B or C chronic liver disease and in 63 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS: The positive rate of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin was 62% in all of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in 14 of 188 chronic liver disease patients during their follow-up period, the positive rate of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin and of alpha-fetoprotein being 57% and 71% in these 14 patients, respectively. Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin level normalized in 67% of 39 patients after the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Of the 19 patients with tumor recurrence, 84% showed re-elevation of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin level. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin by this highly sensitive assay combined with alpha-fetoprotein is useful for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic liver disease patients and for monitoring recurrence after treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Measurement of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin by conventional methods is of limited use for the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma for its low sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the usefulness of measuring des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin by a highly sensitive assay for the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease and for the detection of recurrence after treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODOLOGY: Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin levels by a sensitive assay and alpha-fetoprotein levels were sequentially measured in 188 patients with type B or C chronic liver disease and in 63 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS: The positive rate of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin was 62% in all of hepatocellular carcinomapatients. Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in 14 of 188 chronic liver diseasepatients during their follow-up period, the positive rate of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin and of alpha-fetoprotein being 57% and 71% in these 14 patients, respectively. Des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin level normalized in 67% of 39 patients after the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Of the 19 patients with tumor recurrence, 84% showed re-elevation of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin level. CONCLUSIONS: Measurement of des-gamma-carboxy prothrombin by this highly sensitive assay combined with alpha-fetoprotein is useful for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic liver diseasepatients and for monitoring recurrence after treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Authors: Seung In Seo; Hyoung Su Kim; Won Jin Kim; Woon Geon Shin; Doo Jin Kim; Kyung Ho Kim; Myoung Kuk Jang; Jin Heon Lee; Joo Seop Kim; Hak Yang Kim; Dong Joon Kim; Myung Seok Lee; Choong Kee Park Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2015-04-07 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: Anna S Lok; Richard K Sterling; James E Everhart; Elizabeth C Wright; John C Hoefs; Adrian M Di Bisceglie; Timothy R Morgan; Hae-Young Kim; William M Lee; Herbert L Bonkovsky; Jules L Dienstag Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2009-10-20 Impact factor: 22.682
Authors: Jorge A Marrero; Ziding Feng; Yinghui Wang; Mindie H Nguyen; Alex S Befeler; Lewis R Roberts; K Rajender Reddy; Denise Harnois; Josep M Llovet; Daniel Normolle; Jackie Dalhgren; David Chia; Anna S Lok; Paul D Wagner; Sudhir Srivastava; Myron Schwartz Journal: Gastroenterology Date: 2009-04-09 Impact factor: 22.682