Alpha feto-protein and albumin in ascitic fluid in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work was to study the value of estimating AFP in ascitic fluid of HCC patients with ascites. This work was a case control study on 32 patients, including 22 cases with ascites and HCC and 10 cases [control group] with ascites due to liver cirrhosis without HCC. The level of AFP was estimated in serum and in ascitic fluid by radioimmunoassay [RIA]. The serum ascites albumin gradient [SAAG] was assessed by measuring albumin in all samples using bromocresol green dye binding. Guided aspiration liver biopsy and ascitic fluid cytology were done, stained with H and E. It was found that AFP level in serum was elevated in 72.7% of HCC patients and in ascitic fluid, it was elevated in 63.6% of HCC patients. Also, there was a highly significant, direct positive correlation between elevation of AFP in serum and in ascitic fluid [r = 0.778]. No elevation of AFP in serum and in ascitic fluid was detected in the control group. Ascitic fluid cytology showed malignant cells in one case only. SAAG was significantly lower in the HCC group [0.83 g/dl] than the control group [2.43 g/dl]