Hepatocellular carcinomas do not compromise quantitative tests of liver function

Hepatocellular carcinoma, which usually develops in cirrhotic livers, is one of the most frequent cancers worldwide. If and how far hepatoma growth influences liver function is unclear. Therefore, we compared a broad panel of quantitative tests of liver function in cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma.

Patients with (n=40) and without (n=40) hepatocellular carcinoma were matched according to Child-Pugh grade and subjected to testing of aminopyrine demethylation capacity, galactose elimination capacity, sorbitol clearance and indocyanine green clearance.

Compared to healthy controls, patients with cirrhosis Child-Pugh grade B and grade C revealed reduced metabolic (aminopyrine demethylation capacity, galactose elimination capacity) and perfusion-dependent QTLF (sorbitol clearance, indocyanine green clearance). Comparing values of quantitative tests of liver function in matched patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma, no differences in liver function parameters were observed.

Quantitative tests of liver function correlated inversely with the Child-Pugh grade. Since these parameters are not affected by the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma, the emergence of hepatic neoplasia in cirrhotics does not appear to be determined by the degree of hepatic functional deterioration.