Ratio of serum ornithine carbamoyltransferase to alanine aminotransferase as a potent indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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.
Murayama
Hiroshi
H
Research and Development Section, Diagnostics Department, YAMASA Corporation, 10-1 Araoi-cho 2-Chome, Choshi, Chiba, 288-0056, Japan. murayama@yamasa.com
Fukuda
Yoshihiro
Y
Tsunekawa
Shoji
S
Ikemoto
Masaki
M
Nagata
Atsuo
A
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
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009954:Ornithine Carbamoyltransferase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase