Clinical value of peri-operative detection of prealbumin in patients with primary liver cancer

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of peri-operative prealbumin(PA) detection in patients with pri-mary liver cancer. Methods: From Jul. 2000 to Dec. 2001,the serum prealbumin was examined peri-operatively in 120 pa tients with primary liver cancer. The correlation between PA and routine liver function test, the degree of hepatocirrhosis and hepatic failure was analyzed. ResultS:The preoperative mean serum value of PA [(172 ± 30) mg/L] decreased significantly compared with that of the control group (P0. 01); The positive rate of PA was higher than those of Alb and TBIL (P 0. 01). The reduced degree of PA corresponded with the Child grading of liver function and the cirrhotic degree of liver. The serum value of PA decreased much more and earlier than that of Alb. The serum level of PA on the 5th day post-operation in patients with hepatic failure was (67 + 13) mg/L,while that of the patients without hepatic failure was (118±15) mg/L (P0. 01). Patients could recover from hepatic failure if the serum value of PA increased after treatment, and the serum val ue of PA kept decline or un-changeable in the patients who finally died of hepatic failure. Conclusion: The serum value of PA can sensitively reflect the reserve ability and damage degree of peri-operative liver function. Hepatic failure can be found early and the prognosis of the patients with hepatic failure can be predicted by testing the serum value of PA continually after oper ation.