Clinical significance of abnormal prothrombin (PrVKA-II) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

detection of PIVKA-II by ELISA using anti-PIVKA-II monoclonal antibody

Abstract

Des-γ-carmxyprorombin (an abnormal prothrombin, PIVKA-II) was detected in 43 of 83 patients (52%) with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its concentrations were high in about three fourths of these PIVKA-II-positive patients. In only 4 percent of patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis, PIVKA-II was found and its concentrations were low. PIVKA-II was not detected in patients with cancers other than liver cancers and normal subjects. There was no correlation between AFP and concentrations of PIVKA-II. Concentrations of PIVKA-II changed closely in parallel with development of HCC and its treatments, surgical resection of tumors and L-TAI. Detection of PIVKA-II will be valuable in the diagnosis and follow-up of HCC.