Reliability of B2-Microglobulin as a Marker of HCV correlated HCC

Abstract

HCC is a major type of primary liver cancer and one of the most frequent human malignant neoplasm. It is estimated to cause more than a quarter of a million deaths each year throughout the world. Because of the very high prevalence of HCV in the Egyptian population, it accounts for most chronic liver disease and HCC cases. This study was conducted in co-operation between Tropical Medicine Department Ain-Shams University and Nasser |Institute hospital, Cairo. It included patients who were attending the outpatient clinic at Nasser Institute Hospital Cairo from August 2013 to May 2015. We performed our study on 100 patients with proven chronic hepatitis C virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma that fulfill the pre-designed inclusion criteria. This study was conducted to verify the reliability of ß2-MG as a marker for diagnosis of HCC. 80cases were recruited and were divided into 4 groups:  Group I; 20 patients with Compensated chronic hepatitis C virus infection with no hcepatocellular carcinoma.  Group II; 20 patients with Decompensated chronic hepatitis C virus infection with no hcepatocellular carcinoma.  Group III; 20 patients with Compensated chronic hepatitis C virus infection with established hcepatocellular carcinoma (by criteria of triphasic CT).  Group IV; 20 patients with Decompensated chronic hepatitis C virus infection with established hcepatocellular carcinoma (by criteria of triphasic CT).As well as, a Control Group; will be 20 aged & sex matched apparently healthy individuals. Serum ß2-MG level was measured in peripheral blood samples by ELISA method and there was a significant rise in its level in group III & IV. β2MGhad higher performance than AFP in diagnosis of chronic HCV groups from control group. There was a highly positive correlation between serum ß2-MG level and S. bilirubin, INR, ALT but it was negatively correlated with S. albumin. At a cut off value of 5 mcg/ml; ß2-MGhad a sensitivity of 97.5%, a specificity of 92.2%, a positive predictive value of 92.9%, a negative predictive value 97.4% and an diagnostic accuracy accuracy of 95.1% in detection of HCC (considering healthy subjects as controls). So,ß2-MG is of considerable significance diagnosis of HCC.