Heterozygotes for Z or S alleles of alpha-1-antrypsin (AAT) have low serum AAT levels. Our aim was to compare the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis carrying the SERPINA1 MM, MZ and MS genotypes.
The study groups consisted of 1119 patients with liver cirrhosis of various aetiologies, and 3240 healthy individuals served as population controls. The MZ genotype was significantly more frequent in the study group (55/1119 vs. 87/3240, p