Prediction of the development of hepato-cellular-carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis by the serial determinations of serum alpha-L-fucosidase activity

Objective Evaluation of the usefulness of the serial daterminations of seru m alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU) activity for prediction of the development of he patocellular carcinoma (HCC) was performed. Methods and Patients Serum AFU activity was determined monthly for 42 months in 73 patients with liver cir rhosis (LC), Results HCC was diagnosed in 27 patients by means of ultrasono graphy during this observation period. In 23 (85%) of the 27 patients, seru m 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 activit y 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 alread y elevated in 23 (85%) of 27 patients at least 6 months before the detectio n of HCC by ultrasonography, Conclusion It is conceivable that the developm ent of HCC can be predicted by means of serial determinations of serum AFU activity in patients with LC.