Serum alphafoetoprotein, hepatitis B virus infection and primary hepatocellular carcinoma in Nigerians.

Serum alphafoetoprotein and hepatitis B antigen were estimated by radioimmuno-assay and haemagglutination methods respectively in 42 Nigerian adults comprising 14 subjects in each of three groups, viz, controls, liver cirrhosis and primary hepatocellular carcinoma. At an abnormal concentration of serum alphafoetoprotein greater than 200 micrograms/L, a correct diagnosis of primary liver cancer was made in 64.3% of the patients at a specificity of 100%. However, no correlation was found between serum concentrations of alphafoeto-protein and status of hepatitis B surface antigen in the patients with primary liver cancer. It may be concluded that serum alphafoeto-protein is useful in the diagnosis of primary hepatocellular carcinoma in Nigerians and secretion of the onco-foetal protein by neoplastic hepatocytes is unlikely to be influenced by hepatitis B virus infection.