title: Ratio of serum ornithine carbamoyltransferase to alanine aminotransferase as a potent indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical advantage of the ratio of serum ornithine carbamoyltransferase (OCT) to alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers and their combinations were evaluated and compared with those of two other markers for HCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  OCT/ALT was significantly higher in case of HCC than chronic hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. Its sensitivity (64.3%) was higher than those of alpha-fetoprotein and PIVKA-II (21.4% and 42.9%, respectively). Fluctuations of OCT/ALT before and after treatment were similar to those of alpha-fetoprotein.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OCT/ALT is a potent indicator for the diagnosis and the prognosis of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Section, Diagnostics Department, YAMASA Corporation, 10-1 Araoi-cho 2-Chome, Choshi, Chiba, 288-0056, Japan. murayama@yamasa.com
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsunekawa
authors.forename: Masaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikemoto
authors.forename: Atsuo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nagata
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009954:Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009954:Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase