Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0023890 (cirrhosis)
 42,195 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The levels of human hepatocyte growth factor (hHGF) in sera obtained from patients with various liver diseases were determined using adult rat hepatocytes maintained in primary culture. The mean hHGF activity for 22 patients with fulminant hepatic failure was about nine times greater than that found in normal human serum. The increase in serum hHGF activity seen in two patients with "acute-on-chronic" hepatitis was similar to that found in patients with fulminant hepatic failure. The serum level of hHGF from patients with acute hepatitis is related to the stage of their illness. The average value for 31 patients was about three times that of normal human serum. In some patients, the time course for the increase in serum hHGF activity was similar to that demonstrated for alpha-fetoprotein. The mean hHGF activity in serum for the 33 patients with chronic hepatitis and from 25 patients with liver cirrhosis was increased also compared with that of normal human serum. In addition, serum hHGF activity in three of seven patients studied after partial hepatectomy for a space-occupying lesion of the liver was increased. These data suggest that the increase in serum hHGF activity present in patients with various liver diseases reflects a self-defense mechanism that is involved in the process of liver cell regeneration.
 ...
PMID:Human hepatocyte growth factor in blood of patients with fulminant hepatic failure. I. Clinical aspects. 182 61

Large regenerative nodules in cirrhotic livers may accumulate iron and develop internal iron-poor foci of hyperplasia or malignancy. Magnetic resonance examinations were performed on 23 patients with biopsy-proved cirrhosis. A "nodule-within-nodule" appearance was noted in two patients. This appearance consisted of markedly low intensity of a large nodule on gradient-echo images, with one or two internal foci that were isointense to the liver. Each of the large nodules was 2 cm in diameter, and each of the internal foci was less than 1 cm. Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were normal in both patients. Aspiration biopsy performed in one patient failed to show malignancy, but histologic confirmation of hepatocellular carcinoma was obtained eventually in both cases. The nodule-within-nodule sign, which reflects the unique histopathology of hepatocellular carcinoma in large siderotic regenerative nodules, is strongly suggestive of early hepatocellular carcinoma, even if serologic markers and biopsy results do not support this diagnosis.
 ...
PMID:Hepatocellular carcinoma within siderotic regenerative nodules: appearance as a nodule within a nodule on MR images. 184 84

Detection of hypercoagulable state might be helpful in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) complicating liver cirrhosis (LC). Plasma levels of thrombin-antithrombin III complex (TAT) were determined in 50 patients of LC with or without HCC. The levels were above 2 ng/ml in 80% of 25 HCC patients, but only in 12% of 25 non-HCC patients (P less than 0.01). The levels over 2 ng/ml occurred even in five of six HCC patients whose serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were below 20 ng/ml as well as in two of three patients with HCC less than 2 cm in diameter. Those levels in HCC patients were significantly decreased within 8 days after treatment with transcatheter arterial embolization or infusion of antitumor agents, without affecting plasma antithrombin III levels. These results suggest that plasma TAT levels may be useful in the diagnosis of HCC complicating LC.
 ...
PMID:Plasma thrombin-antithrombin III complexes in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma complicating liver cirrhosis. 184 49

To evaluate the role of plasma des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin in the early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, we simultaneously studied both des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin activities by staphylocoagulase method and des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin antigen levels by enzyme immunoassay in 39 patients with early stage hepatocellular carcinoma (tumor size less than 3 cm in 21 patients, 3 to 5 cm in 18 patients); 68 patients had large hepatocellular carcinoma and 54 patients had chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis. Des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin levels by staphylocoagulase method (X) and enzyme immunoassay method (Y) on the same plasma specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma patients showed a linear correlation (Y = 0.15X - 10.5, r = 0.533, n = 67, p less than 0.001). Elevated des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin activities were present in 10 of 21 patients (47.6%) with hepatocellular carcinoma less than 3 cm, 66.7% of 18 with hepatocellular carcinoma 3 to 5 cm, 67.6% of 68 with hepatocellular carcinomas greater than 5 cm and 27.8% of 54 with chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis. The plasma des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin levels did not correlate with the tumor size or serum alpha-fetoprotein levels. Plasma des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin and serum alpha-fetoprotein measurements were comparable in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma because 22 (56.4%) and 21 (53.8%) of 39 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma less than 5 cm had increased des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin and alpha-fetoprotein levels, respectively. Up to 77% had an abnormal elevation in either marker.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Plasma des-gamma-carboxyprothrombin in the early stage of hepatocellular carcinoma. 215 66

A surgically unresectable, biopsy-proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) developed in a 63-year-old man with cirrhosis. He survived 24 months without treatment. During that time the tumor burden decreased as demonstrated both radiologically and by the normalization of alpha-fetoprotein levels. The patient died of complications secondary to repeated esophageal variceal hemorrhage. Necropsy demonstrated prominent, ulcerated esophageal varices and liver cirrhosis without evidence of neoplasia either grossly or on a subsequent thorough microscopic examination. This case represents the first confirmation of HCC spontaneous regression in which a primary histologic diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical and flow cytometric DNA analysis, and where tumor regression was proven by a thorough necropsy examination.
 ...
PMID:Spontaneous regression of hepatocellular carcinoma. 216 Mar 19

Antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were detected in 60.8% of 78 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cirrhosis, present in most of the patients, as well as alcohol abuse, age, sex, and alpha-fetoprotein were equally distributed in the anti-HCV-positive and -negative groups. HBsAg positivity was significatively higher in negative anti-HCV group. By contrast, hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibodies were detected more frequently in positive anti-HCV patients than in the negative anti-HCV group. These data must be considered with caution because of the small number of HBsAg-positive patients. It is concluded that the high prevalence of anti-HCV in patients with HCC may suggest an etiological role of the hepatitis C virus, although in relationship to age, alcohol abuse and cirrhosis, the similarity in the two groups questions this hypothesis.
 ...
PMID:Serum antibodies to hepatitis C virus in Italian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. 216 May 17

From 1986 to 1988, 35 patients with a hepatoma judged either inoperable or unresectable because of coexistent cirrhosis were treated with hepatic arterial embolization of mitomycin C microcapsules. Five of these 35 patients (14.5%) could not be treated because of inability to selectively cannulate the hepatic artery and were therefore excluded from the evaluation (feasibility rate, 86%). There were 24 men and six women with a median age of 57 years (range, 47 to 79) who could be classified as Okuda I (14 pts) or Okuda II (16 pts) and Child Class A:18 and Child Class B:12 in the remaining patients. A median dose of 0.5 mg mitomycin C/kg was administered to each subject and the treatment was repeated at 5 to 6 week intervals. Seventy courses were administered to these 30 patients (median, two courses/patient; range, 1 to 4). Minor complications were frequent (63%) but always either resolved spontaneously or after appropriate medical treatment. Neither severe renal nor hepatic toxicity was observed. No specific treatment related mortality was observed. When alpha-fetoprotein levels and tumor volume were assessed to evaluate the response to treatment using established criteria for identifying a response, an objective response was found in 43% of the cases treated. The actuarial median survival was 7 months and the 1-year actuarial survival was 36% (51% for those rated as Child Class A and 0% for those identified as Child Class B, P = 0.04 and 78% rated as Okuda Types I and 0% Okuda type II, P = 0.0001). The excellent quality of life and the increased survival rate experienced after mitomycin C microcapsule embolization suggest that this treatment modality can be used successfully in patients seen in the West who have unresectable hepatoma.
 ...
PMID:Hepatic arterial embolization with microencapsulated mitomycin C for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhosis. 216 35

The programme of secondary prevention of primary carcinoma of the liver focused on patients with confirmed cirrhosis of the liver can be applied readily under our conditions. It should become a rational supplement of the oncological programme. The basic objective is the detection of a small focus of the tumour in hepatic tissue not larger than 2-3 cm in diameter, based on regular clinical and laboratory examinations of cirrhotic patients (the result of alpha-fetoprotein is emphasized) and in particular ultrasonography. This is followed by the morphological verification of the tumour either by aimed biopsy during laparoscopy or by aspiration cytology with ultrasonographic control. Supplementation by CT or aimed angiography is also useful. In case of a positive finding the method of choice is above all a restricted resection. On the other hand, treatment with absolute alcohol is increasingly used. It is instilled under ultrasonographic control during repeated sessions into the tumourous focus and its regression is followed up to complete disappearance. This treatment can be combined with subsequent resection. The authors give an account of their own experience.
 ...
PMID:[Early diagnosis and rational therapy of primary carcinoma of the liver. Principles of secondary prevention]. 217 75

Serum CA 125 concentrations were raised in 90.4% of 115 southern African black patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Seventy-four percent of 62 patients with amebic hepatic abscess, 60% of 40 patients with chronic hepatic parenchymal disease (chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis), and 60.9% of 41 patients with acute viral hepatitis also had raised values. The median serum CA 125 concentration for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma differed significantly from the benign hepatic disease groups analysed (p less than 0.0002). Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were raised in 90.4% of the 115 hepatocellular carcinoma patients. CA 125 is thus a highly sensitive marker for hepatocellular carcinoma, but lacks specificity.
 ...
PMID:Evaluation of CA 125 as a serum marker of hepatocellular carcinoma. 217 70

The present studt was completed to assess the clinical utility of B protein, as a tumor marker of hepatocellular carcinoma. The association of B protein and liver cirrhosis was also evaluated because hepatocellular carcinoma is usually combined with cirrhosis. The serum levels of B protein were studied by a Latex-agglutination test. One hundred and twenty-nine patients including 23 hepatocellular carcinoma, 50 hepatocellular carcinoma combined with liver cirrhosis, 40 liver cirrhosis, and 16 chronic hepatitis were tested. The positive rates of B protein in various diseases were as follows: 30.4% (7/23) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma; 68.6% (35/50) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma combined with cirrhosis; 82.5% (33/40) in patients with cirrhosis; and 62.5% (10/16) in patients with chronic hepatitis. When B protein was used as a tumor marker of hepatocellular carcinoma, the sensitivity (57.5%) and specificity (25%) were very low. Furthermore, patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, usually combined with cirrhosis; which carried the highest positive rate on B protein determination. This also limited clinical utilization of B protein as a tumor marker of hepatocellular carcinoma. Moreover, there was no correlation of B protein with the serum alpha-fetoprotein level or tumor size. On the contrary, positive correlation of the B protein level with Child's staging (Tau-c value = 0.392, p = 0.008), and death during follow-up (Tau-c value = 0.456, p = 0.021), were discovered in patients with cirrhosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Serum B protein in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver cirrhosis. 217 15


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10