DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN IN PROGRESSION OF HEPATIC CIRRHOSES OF VARIOUS ETIOLOGIES

Aim. To determine the diagnostic value of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in progression of hepatic cirrhoses (HC) of various etiologies. Materials and methods. Seventy patients with hepatic cirrhosis including 49 patients with a viral etiology of this disease, 11 persons with alcoholic genesis and 10 patients with mixed cirrhosis (virus+alcohol) were examined. The group of control joined 10 practically healthy subjects. Blood serum alpha-fetoprotein level was assessed. Results. The serum AFP level was elevated in HC patients irrespective of etiology, as compared to the control group ( p < 0,001), it directly correlated with the degree of severity by Child-Pugh scale ( r = 0,35; p = 0,004). AFP level in patients with viral and mixed HC was significantly higher than in patients with alcoholic genesis of disease ( p = 0,03 and p = 0,03, respectively). AFP level in patients with compensated stage of HC ( n = 21) was 2,39 (1,16-6,79) ME/ml, with subcompensated ( n = 23) - 2,85 (2,1-18,6) ME/ml ( p = 0,18). In patients with decompensated HC ( n = 26), AFP was 5,02 (3,2-29,6) ME/ml that was significantly higher than in classes A and B ( p = 0,01 and p = 0,02, respectively). Conclusions. Higher AFP values were registered in patients with mixed genesis HC; AFP level rises as HC grows progressively worse; it permits to diagnose the decompensation of this process.

Hepatic cirrhosis, alpha-fetoprotein, viral cirrhosis, alcoholic cirrhosis