[Value of the serum measurement of alpha-L-fucosidase in the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma].

The serum catalytic concentration of alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU) was measured to evaluate its usefulness for the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma (HPC). Fifty-one patients with hepatocarcinoma, 30 with hepatic metastases, 40 with hepatic cirrhosis, 22 with other hepatic diseases and 48 healthy individuals were evaluated. The values of serum AFU were significantly higher in all groups (p less than 0.001), than in the reference group; there were also significant differences between those with HPC and hepatic cirrhosis (p less than 0.01), and between HPC and other hepatic diseases (p less than 0.05). The highest effectiveness of the test was achieved with a catalytic concentration of serum AFU of 210 nKat/l, with a 37% sensitivity and a 91% specificity. When the AFU measurement was used concomitantly with that of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) for the diagnosis of HPC, sensitivity increased to 72% when AFI or AFP were elevated, and specificity reached 99% when both were increased. We think that the measurement of serum AFU may be helpful for the diagnosis of hepatocarcinoma.