Alpha-1 Antitrypsin and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Liver Cirrhosis: MZ or MS Genotype Carriage Decreases the Risk.

Heterozygotes for Z or S alleles of alpha-1-antrypsin (AAT) have low serum AAT levels. Our aim was to compare the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis carrying the MM, MZ and MS genotypes. The study groups consisted of 1119 patients with liver cirrhosis of various aetiologies, and 3240 healthy individuals served as population controls.