PIVKA-II During Perioperative Period in Patients with Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Diseases

Background/aims: In this study, we examined the influence of clinical treatments in the perioperative period upon PIVKA-II (plasma levels of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatobiliary diseases.

Methodology: During a perioperative period, plasma PIVKA-II levels were measured in 144 patients with various hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases by two types of EIA kit, using the conventional monoclonal antibody MU-3 and the new monoclonal antibody 19B7; Thrombotests were given at the same time.

Results: PIVKA-II of hepatocellular carcinoma patients showed higher reactivity with MU-3 than with 19B7. On the other hand, PIVKA-II of pancreatobiliary malignancies showed higher reactivity to 19B7 than it did to MU-3. In hepatocellular carcinoma patients, there was no correlation between PIVKA-II and Thrombotest levels; however, a significant correlation was found in patients with obstructive jaundice due to pancreatobiliary cancer. PIVKA-II levels decreased gradually to normal range within about 2 weeks after the curative operation. PIVKA-II levels in the patients receiving antibiotics containing N-methyl-thiotetrazole without administration of vitamin K remained high as long as the antibiotics were administered, but decreased to normal range as soon as the administration was finished.

Conclusions: PIVKA-II which is produced by hepatocellular carcinoma may be different from that produced by obstructive jaundice due to pancreatobiliary malignancies. The clinical treatments in perioperative period, such as the administration of antibiotics containing N-methyl-thiotetrazole or vitamin K, readily influence PIVKA-II levels. Therefore, abnormal PIVKA-II levels must be carefully interpreted in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma and pancreatobiliary malignancies.