Study of serum prealbumin and serum alpha fetoprotein in cases of fulminant hepatic failure.

We studied serum prealbumin (SPA) and serum alpha fetoprotein (AFP) to assess liver cell injury and prognosis in patients with fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). We studied 21 patients of FHF of viral etiology, 10 acute viral hepatitis (AVH) and 10 healthy controls. Initial (on the day of admission) AFP levels were significantly elevated in FHF group (30.28 +/- 63.58 ng/ml, p < 0.01 compared to AVH and control group in whom it was undetectable. Serum AFP correlated well with deranged Liver Functions (LFT). In the Survivors (n = 4) of FHF, serial estimations (on Day 5 and Day 10 of admission) revealed declining AFP Levels, correlating with clinical recovery. SPA on admission was significantly reduced in FHF group (15.10 +/- 9 mg/dl p < 0.05) compared to AVH (37.0 +/- 9.34 mg/dl) and control group (40.25 +/- 5.92 mg/dl). Low SPA also correlated with deranged LFT. Serial estimations in the survivors (Day 5, Day 10) revealed rising SPA which correlated with clinical recovery.