Plasma PIVKA-II levels in hepatobiliary disease

Abstract

By using the methop of enzyme immunoassay, plasma abnormal prothrombin (protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II: PIVKA-II) was measured in patients with hepatobiliary diseases. In 21 (60%) of 35 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), plasma PIVKA-II levels were increased (>0.10 arbitary unit/ml). After curative resection of HCC, plasma PIVKA-II levels decreased to within normal ranges. Therefore, plasma PIVKA-II determination was very useful in the detection and monitoring of therapy for HCC patients.
Plasma PIVKA-II levels were also increased in both postoperative patients receiving antibiotics containing N-methltetrazolethiol without vitamin K, and patients with external biliary drainage.