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Abstract (HCC) is one of the commonest malignancies in the world. Many etiological factors have been implicated in HCC including (HCV). This study focused on a panel of markers predicting early development of HCC among HCV infected patients. The study included 80 individuals who were further subdivided into 4 groups (20 individuals each). Group (I) includes normal individual. Group (II), chronic HCV without INF/ribavirin treatment. Group (III) chronic HCV with interferon plus ribavirin during treatment and Group (IV) (HCC). All HCC and chronic hepatitis patients were seropositive to HCV. All cases were subjected to the following: (a) liver function tests (b) prothrombin time and concentration (c) serological tests for HCV Ab (d) serum AFP (e) plasma DCP. Analysis of serum total bilirubin showed that, there was no significantly difference between groups (II) and (III), while it was significantly higher in all groups than group (I), the direct bilirubin was significantly higher in group (II), and (III), compared to group (IV). Regarding enzymes AST, ALT were significantly higher in (II), (III) and (IV), compared to group (I). Concerning albumin, there was no significant difference in (II) but significantly higher in group (III) and (IV) as compared to group (I). Prothrombin time and concentration showed significant increase in group II, III and IV, in time and decrease in concentration as compared to group (I). Serum AFP and DCP levels were significantly higher in all groups compared to normal group.The simultaneous determination of both AFP and DCP improve the sensitivity of detection of HCC to 90% instead of using each one alone. In conclusion AFP and DCP were the most useful serum tumour markers for the detection of HCC. DCP had a better diagnostic value than AFP in differentiating HCC from non-malignant chronic liver disease and the simultaneous determination of these markers could improve the accuracy, especially in differentiating HCC from non-malignant hepatopathy. |