Abstract:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common complication in
patients with chronic viral hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. Detection of HCC
at an early stage is critical for a favorable clinical outcome. This study
was aimed to determine the usefulness of Lens Culinaris Agglutinin-
Reactive Fraction Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP-L3) as an early diagnostic
marker for HCC in Sudanese chronic liver disease patients.
Across sectional case- control hospital based study was carried
out in hepatology referral unit- Ibn Sina Hospital- Khartoum State from
March 2011 to January 2012.Venous blood samples (5ml) were collected
in plan container from Fifty seven patients; 25 HCC confirmed patients
by standard imaging techniques and total Alpha Fetoprotein and 32
Chronic liver disease patients were enrolled in this study. AFP-L3 and
Total Alpha Fetoprotein (T.AFP) were measured in serum specimens by
immunometric assay.
AFP showed the highly increased levels in patients with HCC,
while AFP-L3 showed decreased levels. AFP-L3 and T.AFP levels in
serum significantly elevated in chronic liver disease patients and HCC
patients (AFP-L3: P= 0.006, 0.000 and T.AFP: P= 0.001, 0.000
respectively). In addition, the serum level of AFP-L3 and T.AFP were
significantly different with tumor size, number of tumors, and focal liver
lesions and age. There was no significant different between male and
female patients regarding AFP-L3 (P= 0.261) and T.AFP (P= 0.465).
AFP-L3 provides complementary information to T.AFP for an
early recognition of malignant liver tumor. These finding encourage us
for use the AFP-L3 as adjunct marker for diagnosis of HCC.
