Prediction of the Development of Hepato-Cellular-Carcinoma in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis by the Serial Determinations of Serum Alpha-L-fucosidase Activity

Abstract

Objective: Evaluation of the usefulness of the serial daterminations of serum alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU) activity for prediction of the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was performed. Methods and Patients: Serum AFU activity was determined monthly for 42 months in 73 patients with liver cirrhosis (LC). Results: HCC was diagnosed in 27 patients by means of ultrasonography during this observation period. In 23 (85%) of the 27 patients, serum AFU activity was found to exceed 700 nmole/ml/h during the LC stage. HCC developed within a few years in 23 (82%) of 28 LC patients with AFU activity exceeding 700 nmole/ml/h, in contrast, it developed in only 4 (9%) of 45 LC patients with AFU activity below 700 nmole/ml/h. AFU activity was already elevated in 23 (85%) of 27 patients at least 6 months before the detection of HCC by ultrasonography. Conclusion: It is conceivable that the development of HCC can be predicted by means of serial determinations of serum AFU activity in patients with LC.