α1-antitrypsin and survival in hepatocellular carcinoma

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The association between serum levels of alpha1-antitrypsin (.alpha.1AT) at the time of diagnosis and survival was studied in a group of 78 patients with confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). All 78 patients were followed until the time of death, which occurred in all instances from HCC, with a median time of 6 months and a range of 1-117 months. Cox''s proportional hazards model was utilised in the analysis controlling for sex, age, HBsAg status and logarithmically transformed values of .alpha.-fetoprotein (.alpha.-FP). Older patients and patients positive for HBsAg have suggestively higher fatality rates (0.05 < P < 0.10) whereas in these data sex and AFP levels were not important prognostic factors. Increased levels of serum a .alpha.1AT at the time of diagnosis of HCC were statistically significantly (P < 0.05) related with shorter survival, patients with higher serum .alpha.1AT by 200 mg 100 ml-1 having an expected survival time shorter by about 25%.