alpha 1-antitrypsin phenotype PiMZ, a risk factor for liver cirrhosis but not for liver cancers in Thailand.

The risk of developing liver cirrhosis, hepatoma (HCC) and bile duct carcinoma (BDC) have been associated with homozygous alpha 1-antitrypsin (AT) deficiency especially linked to the Z allele. While the association between liver cancers and AT deficiency remains debatable, the risk of adult AT deficiency carriers to develop liver cirrhosis has not been assessed quantitatively. Liver cancers and liver diseases with subsequent liver cirrhosis are highly prevalent in tropical countries such as Thailand and heterozygous AT phenotypes are rather common in this country as well.