Premium
Serum vitamin B 12 binders in south african blacks with hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Van Tonder Susan,
Kew Michael C.,
Hodkinson John,
Metz Jack,
FernandesCosta Francisco
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19850815)56:4<789::aid-cncr2820560415>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , medicine , vitamin b12 , cirrhosis , gastroenterology , vitamin , carcinoma , endocrinology
Sera from 242 South African blacks with hepatocellular carcinoma were assayed for unsaturated vitamin B 12 binding capacity (UBBC) and vitamin B 12 activity. Six patients were younger than 20 years of age, and 24% were younger than 30 years of age. Eighty‐four percent of the patients had a slightly raised UBBC and 86% had a slightly elevated vitamin B 12 value, but in no patient was an exceptionally high UBBC present. Serum UBBC and vitamin B 12 were not higher in younger patients, and raised UBBC values were not related to serum alpha‐fetoprotein values. Serum UBBC and vitamin B 12 concentrations were not significantly different in patients with and without coexisting cirrhosis. In none of the patients with a UBBC above 3000 pg/ml was the fibrolamellar variant of hepatocellular carcinoma present. The authors conclude that South African blacks with hepatocellular carcinoma do not secrete an abnormal vitamin B 12 binding protein.