In acute and chronic liver diseases, the level of TBT, the principal thyroid hormone binding protein in human serum, is changed. Serum TBG is elevated in a certain proportion of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and has been claimed to be a
tumor
marker.
The serum level of TBG was measured in patients with acute and chronic liver diseases not only to evaluate the relationship of hepatocyte damage and serum TBG level, but also to study the suefullness of TBG as a tumor marker in the hepatocellular
carcinoma. Serum TBG was measured by radioimmunoassay in 98 patients with liver diseases(11 AVH, 24 CAH, 23 LC, 40 HCC).
TBG was elevated in acute and chronic liver diseases in the order of AVH (mean 37.9㎍/ml). In acute and chronic hepatitis, although there was no linear correlation between ALT and TBC, the TBG level was decreased significantly as ALT level
decreased.
There was no significant difference of serum TBG level between HCC and LC(p=0.139). There was no relationship between serum TBG and AFP level in HCC(p=0.873). Although serum TBG level was significantly elevated in HCC as well as benign liver
disease
with inflammation, it was not useful as a tumor marker of HCC.(Korean J Gastroenterol 1994 ; 26 : 102-108).
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