CLINLCAL SIGNIFICANCE OF TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR-BETA I IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA ASSOCIATED WITH HCV INFECTION

Abstract

This study was designed to include sixety patients with chronic I-ICY liver disease. Group (I) include twenty patients with pathologically proven hepatocellular carcinoma, group (II) include twenty patients with liver cirrhosis and group (Ill) include twenty patients with chronic hepatitis C, 111 addition to lillcen healthy subjects served as healthy control group (IV). All patients were referred to the Tropical Medicine department, Kasr EI-J\ini Hospital, Cairo University, from December 200 I to March 2002. The patients included 49 males and II females, their ages ranged between 22 and 66 years. They were subjected to complete clinical assessment, Laboratory work up including urine ai1d stools analysis, complete blood pictures, liver function tests: including Serum bilirubin (total and direct), sci•um transaminases (J\LT and J\ST), alkaline phosphatase, total proteins <llld albumin, prothrombin time and concentration, kidney function tests including serum urea and creatinine and serological tests for HBV (HBsAg, anti J-113c, anti J-IBs) and for I-ICY (anti I-ICY antibodies). In addition to PCR HCV RNA which was done to all patients. Abdominal Ultrasonography was done for all patients. Estimation ol' the level ol' Alpha fetoprotein was done in patients with I•ICC. The liver biopsy was done to patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and patients with chronic hepatitis after consent of the patients.

Serum level of human Transforming Growth Factor-Beta I (TGF- I) was determined using EIA technique according to the 1310SOURCE TGF-I EASIA laboratories in all patients.