title: alpha-Fetoprotein monitoring in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: role in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Two hundred ninety patients (203 men, 87 women), age 7 to 74 years (mean: 39.1 years), with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, were prospectively followed for a period of 1 to 4 years to determine the value of alpha-fetoprotein monitoring in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. At presentation, 66% of the patients were asymptomatic, 19% had chronic hepatitis and 15% had established cirrhosis. Forty-four (15%) patients had elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels on one or more occasions during the study period. Twenty patients with normal alpha-fetoprotein levels at presentation developed elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels during the course of follow-up, whereas 24 patients had elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels at presentation. Six (14%) of these 44 patients (five men and one woman), age 23 to 66 years, had persistent or progressive increase in alpha-fetoprotein levels and were confirmed to have hepatocellular carcinoma. In four patients, the alpha-fetoprotein levels were below 500 ng per ml at the time of tumor localization. Only three patients had resectable tumors. All six patients would have been missed if alpha-fetoprotein screening was restricted to men above the age of 40 with cirrhosis and anti-HBe. Of the remaining 38 patients, elevation in alpha-fetoprotein levels in 18 patients was associated with exacerbations of the underlying liver disease and/or significant changes in level of hepatitis B virus replication, but in 20 patients, no apparent cause could be identified. The elevation in AFP levels exceeded 200 ng per ml in 26% and persisted beyond 6 months in 15% of these patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Lok
authors: C L
authors: CL
authors: Lai
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins