Clin Mol Hepatol.  2012 Sep;18(3):302-308. 10.3350/cmh.2012.18.3.302.

Thrombocytopenia represents a risk for deterioration of liver function after radiofrequency ablation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

• Lee HS
• Park SY
• Kim SK
• Kweon YO
• Tak WY
• Cho CM
• Jeon SW
• Jung MK
• Park HG
• Lee DW
• Choi SY

• KMID: 1392910
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3350/cmh.2012.18.3.302

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
We evaluated changes in liver function parameters and risk factors for the deterioration of liver function 12 months after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
METHODS
The subjects in this retrospective study comprised 102 patients with HCC who had undergone RFA therapy and exhibited no recurrence of HCC 12 months thereafter. Serial changes in serum total bilirubin and albumin, prothrombin time, and Child-Pugh score were evaluated before RFA and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months thereafter. Deterioration of liver function was defined when the Child-Pugh score increased by at least 2 at 12 months after RFA therapy. We determined the factors related to aggravation of liver function after RFA therapy.
RESULTS
Liver function had deteriorated 12 months after RFA in 29 patients (28.4%). Serum albumin levels decreased significantly from before (3.7+/-0.1 g/dL, mean+/-SD) to 12 months after RFA therapy (3.3+/-0.1 g/dL, P=0.002). The Child-Pugh score increased significantly during the same time period (from 6.1+/-0.2 to 7.2+/-0.3, P<0.001). Pre-RFA thrombocytopenia (< or =100,000/mm3) was revealed as a significant risk factor for the deterioration of liver function after RFA. However, no patients had episodes of bleeding as a complication of RFA.
CONCLUSIONS
Among the liver-function parameters, serum albumin level was markedly decreased in HCC patients over the course of 24 months after RFA therapy. A pre-RFA thrombocytopenia represents a major risk factor for the deterioration of liver function.

Keyword

Radiofrequency ablation; Thrombocytopenia, Liver function

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bilirubin/blood
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/complications/physiopathology/*therapy
Catheter Ablation/*adverse effects
Down-Regulation
Female
Humans
Liver Neoplasms/*complications/physiopathology/*therapy
Male
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Prothrombin Time
Retrospective Studies
Risk Factors
Serum Albumin/analysis
Severity of Illness Index
Thrombocytopenia/*complications