VALUE OF SERUM RETINOL-BINDING PROTEIN 4 LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITHHEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Abstract

SUMMARY H epatitis C virus infection is widespread; it affects millions of people worldwide and induces range of chronic liver diseases. Chronic HCV infection causes progressive hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in up to 20% of patients and approximately 10%-20% of cirrhotic patients may go on to develop HCC. Chronic HCV infection is associated with the development of hepatic steatosis and unique, virus-specific alterations in host metabolism leading to the development of IR,which is one of the gravest metabolic disturbances. It has been reported that IR can increase the risk of developing HCC in patients with chronic HCV infection. A multiplicity of viral and host factors may play crucial roles in facilitating the onset of IR that may ultimately end with HCC development. Liver is the major source of RBP4. The association of elevated serum RBP4 level with NAFLD is well established, in addition to the fact that patients with liver cirrhosis have significantly lower serum RBP4 levels due to reduced hepatic biosynthetic capacity. The focus of this study was to determine the value of serum RBP4 level in Egyptian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and to correlate RBP4 level with the metabolic profile in these patients. The present study found the mean serum values of RBP4 to be significantly higher in cirrhotic HCC patients than in cirrhotic patients without HCC. The finding of significant difference of serum RBP4 level between patients with HCC and cirrhotic patients without HCC pointed to the potential of serum RBP4 as a new biomarker for screening of HCC in patients with HCV related liver cirrhosis. Conclusion: RBP4 was significantly re-upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma patients from its reduced levels in cirrhotic patients. RBP4 has the potential to be a new biomarker for screening of HCC in patients with liver cirrhosis.