[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].
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.
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins
Correlazione fra valori di alfa-1-fetoproteina e manifestazioni cliniche della cirrosi nella valutazione di una evoluzione carcinomatosa della malattia. Dati preliminari su una casistica di pazienti anziani.