Rising plasma nociceptin level during development of HCC: a case report.

Aim: Although liver cirrhosis is a predisposing factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), relatively few reports are available on HCC in primary biliary cirrhosis. High plasma nociceptin (N/OFQ) level has been shown in Wilson disease and in patients with acute and chronic pain.

Methods: We report a follow-up case of HCC, which developed in a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis.

[Peripheral nociceptin levels in Wilson disease].

Plasma level of nociceptin, the endogenous agonists of orphaninFQ/OP4 receptor was found to be significantly elevated in Wilson's disease patients (14.87 +/- 2.44 pg/ml +/- SD, p < 0.