Assessment of some biochemical parameters of the hepatocellular carcinoma, liver cirrhosis and hepatitis C patients

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis C virus is a major etiological agent associated with the development of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is associated with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]. Early detection of HCC in cirrhotic patients can usually be achieved by screening with non invasive techniques such as ultrasound scan and serum alpha-fetoprotein [AFP]. The aim of this study was to determine the plasma levels of immunoreactive matrix metalloproteinase [MMP-9], AFP and basic fibroblast growth factor [FGF] in patients with hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection, liver cirrhosis [LC] and [HCC]. This study included 30 patients with HCV infection, 30 patients with [LC] and 30 patients with HCC. The plasma MMP-9 levels in patients with HCC increase significantly than [LC] group P < 0.05. The plasma AFP levels in patients with HCC were significantly higher than those with hepatitis C group [P < 0.05] and insignificantly higher than those with LC [P > 0.05]. The FGF levels in patients with [LC] were significantly higher than those with [HCV] infection P < 0.01 but FGF level in HCC group increased insignificantly than HCV patients [P > 0.05]