title: Elevation of circulating immune complexes and its relationship to alpha-fetoprotein levels in patients with hepatitis B surface antigen-positive hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: In an attempt to evaluate the relationship between circulating immune complexes (CIC) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), CIC and AFP were detected in 93 hepatitis B surface antigen-positive (HBsAg+) patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 54 healthy controls. The median level of 3% PEG (polyethylene glycol)-CIC and Clq-CIC were higher in patients than in controls (p less than 0.001). In patients with HCC, the prevalence of elevated 3% PEG-CIC, Clq-CIC, and AFT was 27.9%, 55.9%, and 77.4%, respectively. There was association between AFP and 3% PEG-CIC positivity (p less than 0.01). The median level of 3% PEG-CIC and Clq-CIC increased as AFP levels elevated (p less than 0.05), but decreased as AFP exceeded 1599 ng/ml (p less than 0.05). For adjusting the effect of impaired liver function on the level of CIC, multivariate analysis with stepwise logistic regression revealed that 3% PEG-CIC was associated, in a dose-related fashion, with an increased risk for developing HCC (odds ratio = 1.003, p less than 0.001). These results imply that elevation of 3% PEG-CIC may be related to tumor mass. Additionally, 3% PEG-CIC is a useful marker to monitor therapy with transcatheter arterial embolization in patients with HBsAg+ HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: W Y
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Ton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000032:analysis*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D004621:Embolization, Therapeutic; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000276:immunology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins