Usefulness of acute phase proteins for monitoring development of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B virus carriers.

Background: Serum levels of acute phase proteins (APP) have been used to diagnose and follow up treatment of liver diseases. This study was carried out to determine the usefulness of APP to predict development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) among Hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers.

Study Design: In a prospective study, serum haptoglobin, transferrin and alpha 2 macroglobulin levels of 55 subjects consisting of 20 HBV carriers, 18 HBV-positive HCC patients and 17 controls were determined using single radial immunodiffusion.