Correlation between values of alpha-1-fetoprotein and clinical manifestations of cirrhosis in the evaluation of a carcinomatous course of the disease. Preliminary data on case material on elderly patients
La Cascia, C.; Migneco, G.; Tripi, S.; Mascarella, A.; Navetta, A.; La Ferla, A.; Attianese, R.
Minerva Medica 78(13): 889-892
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0026-4806 PMID: 2439951 Document Number: 287697
Early diagnosis of PHC development in cirrhosis is sometimes difficult through common tests excluding invasive diagnostic procedures; liver biopsy as a routine periodical control during the course of the disease is not advisable and AFP monitoring as a diagnostic test is preferable. The present study shows the results of a screening for AFP levels in a series of 113 cirrhotic patients aged over 50. 11.5% of them presented increased levels of serum AFP, indicating development of PHC. AFP elevated values resulted in 76.5% of cases associated with a previous HBV infection, and the risk of PHC development resulted sixfold greater in anti-HBc positive male cirrhotic patients. In patients with elevated AFP levels the prevalence of complications of cirrhosis resulted up to tenfold greater than in AFP negative patients.