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Serum α-Fetoprotein: Diagnostic Significance in Liver Disease

Br Med J 1974; 2 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.2.5918.527 (Published 08 June 1974) Cite this as: Br Med J 1974;2:527
  1. Erkki Ruoslahti,
  2. Mikko Salaspuro,
  3. Helena Pihko,
  4. Leif Andersson,
  5. Markku Seppälä

    Abstract

    Raised serum α-fetoprotein levels measured by radioimmunoassay were found in 19 out of 24 (79%) patients with primary liver cancer and in 32 out of 311 (10%) patients with other liver diseases. The rise was transient in cases of hepatitis and a transient rise was also seen after alcohol intake ceased in two patients with cirrhosis. α-Fetoprotein levels exceeding 500 ng/ml were 30-50 times more common in primary liver cancer than in other liver diseases. A rise in level seems to reflect the extent of liver regeneration in liver diseases other than primary cancer.