Dysfibrinogenaemia and primary hepato-cellular carcinoma

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Hepatology
• Oncology

Background:

• Primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a significant global health concern.
• Understanding the hemostatic abnormalities associated with HCC is crucial for diagnosis and management.
• Current screening methods like alpha fetoprotein (AFP) have limitations in sensitivity and specificity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the coagulation and fibrinolysis mechanisms in black African adults with primary HCC.
• To identify a reliable biological marker for HCC.
• To evaluate the utility of the reptilase test (RT) for detecting dysfibrinogenemia in HCC patients.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis mechanisms.
• Analysis of 28 black adult African patients with primary HCC.
• Utilized the reptilase test (RT) for dysfibrinogenemia detection.

Main Results:

• A characteristic pattern of coagulation and fibrinolysis abnormalities was defined in HCC patients.
• Dysfibrinogenemia was identified as a potential biological marker for HCC.
• The reptilase test (RT) proved to be a simple, reliable, and sensitive method for detecting dysfibrinogenemia.

Conclusions:

• Dysfibrinogenemia is a useful biological marker for primary HCC.
• The reptilase test (RT) is recommended for screening high-risk populations (e.g., cirrhotics) alongside AFP.
• The identified hemostatic defect may play a role in HCC pathogenesis and suggests potential therapeutic avenues.