[Primary liver carcinoma: deficiency of alpha 1-antitrypsin]

A preliminary study involving 12 subjects suffering from carcinoma of the liver indicates the value of the estimation of alpha-1 antitrypsin and the determination of its phenotype by bidimensional electrophoresis. Alpha-1 antitrypsin was greater than 3.3 g/l in all cases, with a normal of 2.5 g/l. The MZ phenotype was found in 9 cases out of 12, the MM phenotype in the three recent cases and in particular in the only case of secondary carcinoma. In the Pi system, the Z trait would seem to be a genetic risk factor in primary carcinoma of the liver. Determination of the phenotype of alpha-1 antitrypsin may aid in its laboratory diagnosis.