Alteration of laboratory findings after radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: relationship to severity of the underlying liver disease and the ablation volume

• Published in: Clinical and molecular hepatology Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 71 - 79
• Main Authors: Shin, Sang-Wook, Jeong, Woo Kyoung, Lim, Sanghyeok, Kim, Yongsoo, Kim, Jinoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) Korean Association for the Study of the Liver 01.03.2015; The Korean Association for the Study of the Liver
• Subjects: Ablation; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alanine aminotransferase; Alanine Transaminase - blood; Bilirubin - blood; Biomarkers - metabolism; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - diagnostic imaging; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - pathology; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - surgery; Catheter Ablation; Child-Pugh class; Electrodes; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Hemoglobin; Hepatitis; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Humans; Laboratories; Leukocytes; Leukocytosis; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver diseases; Liver Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Liver Neoplasms - pathology; Liver Neoplasms - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Original; Patients; Phosphatase; Radiofrequency ablation; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index; Tumors; Ultrasonography; Viral infections; United States > US; Radiofrequency ablation; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Alanine aminotransferase; Leukocytosis; Child-Pugh class
• ISSN: 2287-2728; 2287-285X
• DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2015.21.1.71

To investigate sequential changes in laboratory markers after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the relationship of these changes to the severity of the underlying liver disease. This retrospective analysis included 65 patients (44 males, 21 females) who underwent RFA of HCC. Hematologic and biochemical markers were assessed at the pre-RFA period and 1 day, 2-3 days, and 1-2 weeks after RFA. We classified the subjects into two groups: Child-Pugh A (n=41) and Child-Pugh B (n=24). The ablative margin volume (AMV) of each patient was measured. We analyzed the changes in laboratory profiles from the baseline, and investigated whether these laboratory changes were correlated with the AMV and the Child-Pugh classification. Most of the laboratory values peaked at 2-3 days after RFA. AMV was significantly correlated with changes in WBC count, hemoglobin level, and serum total bilirubin level (Pearson's correlation coefficient, 0.324-0.453; P<0.05). The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level varied significantly over time (P=0.023). Most of the measured laboratory markers changed from baseline, peaking at 2-3 days. The ALT level was the only parameter for which there was a significant difference after RFA between Child-Pugh A and B patients: it increased significantly more in the Child-Pugh A patients.