[NK activity in various liver diseases--especially the relation between NK activity and reserve function of the liver in liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma].

NK activity in acute viral hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis (LC), metastatic liver cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was preserved and had no significant change compared with the normal control in each disease. In acute hepatitis, NK activity was higher in convalescent phase than in acute phase. Although in LC and HCC, some liver functions such as total bilirubin, the rate of ICG 15' excretion, AFP and IAP did not have significant correlation with NK activity, advanced cases according to Child's classification and E factor which was anatomical extent of HCC in liver showed significantly low NK activity. The low NK activity group advanced much more in Child's classification, performance status, stage and E factor of HCC than high NK activity group significantly. According to those facts, LC or HCC is not a single entity of disease in view point of NK activity. NK activity may change in accordance with the advancement of hepatic disease and reserve function of the liver in LC and HCC.