A background examination of four cases of primary biliary cirrhosis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma *
Abstract : Having experienced four cases of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we decided to investigate its prevalence and background factors. The diagnosis of PBC in our cases was based on the following criteria : cholestatic serum biochemistry, positive anti-mitochondrial anti-bodies and a compatible liver biopsy. None of the patients had characteristics of other liver diseases, such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or alcoholic liver disease. There was a long passage of time between the diagnosis of liver dysfunction and that of development of HCC in these cases. The mean age at the time of diagnosis of liver dysfunction was 56.5 ± 2.6 yrs and that for the diagnosis of HCC was 70.0 ± 2.5 yrs. As for the PBC satge, one patient was at histologically Scheuer stage Ⅲ while the three remaining patients were at stage IV. Among 20 cases at histologically late stages (Scheuer stage Ⅲ or IV), we compared the liver function tests of four patients with HCC development with 16 cases who had not developed HCC. The %-protrombin time and albumin levels in those who had developed HCC were significantly higher than those of the cases without HCC. Four PBC cases complicated by HCC were discovered in histological late stage cases with a long passage from the diagnosis of liver dysfunction, and a higher %-protrombin time and albumin levels were maintained in these patients than in the histological late stage PBC cases without HCC. (Accepted on October 12, 2001) Kawasaki lgakkahhi 27(4): 275-278, 2001
