ELASTASE BINDING-CAPACITY OF ALPHA(2)-MACROGLOBULIN AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH GLUCOCORTICOID CONCENTRATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICAN BLACK PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

Thirty-three Southern African black patients with hepatocellular carci noma (HCC) (7 women) and 43 black control individuals (14 women), all in the age group 18-45 years, were investigated for plasma alpha(2)-ma croglobulin (alpha(2)M) elastase binding capacity (EBC). Cortisol leve ls were measured in 15 (3 women) of the HCC patients and 10 (5 women) of the control subjects. A significant difference in EBC was found bet ween the HCC patients and the control subjects (P < 0.001). A signific ant difference was also found in cortisol levels between the two group s (P < 0.001). A significant correlation between EBC and cortisol leve ls was obtained (r = 0.57; P < 0.042). The significant increase in EBC of alpha(2)M in HCC patients could be due to an increase in circulati ng cortisol.