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Assessment of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Middle Eastern Patients

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Abstract

Background

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels for the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may vary by geographical region and racial background. No data exists for this test in the Middle Eastern population. In addition, there is limited data on the impact of virological status on AFP levels.

Methods

In a multicenter, case-control study involving 206 cases, 199 cirrhotic and 197 chronic hepatitis controls, we assessed the utility of AFP in the diagnosis of HCC (sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative (NPV) predictive values, and positive likelihood ratios (LR). PPV and NPV were evaluated for three additional HCC prevalence rates (5, 10, and 20%).

Results

The best discriminating AFP value was 11.7 ng/ml. The sensitivity ranged from 32 to 79.5% at different AFP levels with the specificity increasing sequentially from 47.7 to 98.5%. Sensitivity of AFP at the best cut-off level for hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) and non-viral etiology for HCC was 73.7, 65.6, and 59.5%, respectively. Specificity at this level for HCV, HBV, and non-viral etiology was 36.6, 30.1, and 29.4%, respectively. AFP cut-off levels of 102, 200, and 400 ng/ml showed similar sensitivity (39.8, 35.9, and 32%, respectively) and specificity (96, 98.5, and 98.5% respectively). Positive LR for AFP at >11.7, >20, >102, >200, >400 ng/ml were 2.8, 3.3, 9.9, 23.8, and 21.2, respectively.

Conclusions

In cirrhotic patients, AFP has a poor screening and diagnostic value for HCC. Underlying viral etiology fails to influence the diagnostic accuracy of this test. An AFP level greater than 100 ng/ml has a high degree of specificity and may be used as a confirmatory test.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology, Riyadh Military Hospital (A41), PO Box 7897, Riyadh, 11159, Saudi Arabia

    Faisal M. Sanai & Khalid I. Bzeizi

  2. Department of Pathology, Riyadh Military Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Samia Sobki

  3. Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Khalid Alswat, Waleed Al-Hamoudi, Majid Almadi & Ayman A. Abdo

  4. Department of Surgery, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Faisal Al Saif

  5. Department of Family & Community Medicine, King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Shaffi A. Shaikh

Authors
  1. Faisal M. Sanai
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  2. Samia Sobki
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  3. Khalid I. Bzeizi
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  4. Shaffi A. Shaikh
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  5. Khalid Alswat
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  6. Waleed Al-Hamoudi
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  9. Ayman A. Abdo
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Correspondence to Faisal M. Sanai.

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Sanai, F.M., Sobki, S., Bzeizi, K.I. et al. Assessment of Alpha-Fetoprotein in the Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Middle Eastern Patients. Dig Dis Sci 55, 3568–3575 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1201-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-010-1201-x

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