Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC] is the most common primary hepatic cancer in adults, accounting for 70.48% of all liver malignancies in Egypt.
The aim of the work: To assess the potential diagnostic value of serum PTX3 level in Egyptian patients with various stages of liver disease including chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and HCC, to assess its potential in distinguishing HCC from cirrhosis.
Patients and Methods: This case control study included 100 patients attending the outpatient clinic of the Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Infectious Diseases Department at Al-Azhar University Hospitals [Al Hussien and Sayed Galal University Hospitals] with various stages of liver disease. Patients were divided into 4 groups: Group 1: 25 patients with chronic hepatitis. Group 2: 25 patients with cirrhosis. Group 3: 25 patients with HCC. Group 4: 25 healthy persons without chronic liver diseases or other comorbidities [e.g. CKD, DM].
Results: PTX3 showed a moderate positive correlation with AST, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin, and a moderate negative correlation with albumin. PTX3 levels differed significantly between hepatitis B and C patients in the chronic hepatitis group, but not between the cirrhosis and HCC groups.
Conclusion:  PTX3 is a good serum biomarker for diagnosing HCC, with 96% sensitivity and 72% specificity at a cutoff of 9 ng/ml.