title: alpha-fetoprotein in noneoplastic hepatic disorders.
abstract: Serum alpha-fetoprotein levels were measured by radioimmunoassay in 473 patients with biopsy-proved noneoplastic hepatic disorders; 22% had values greater than 40 ng/ml, whereas only 1 of 350 patients with nonhepatic benign diseases had a value greater than this. Levels exceeded 40 ng/ml in more than 30% of patients with various types of hepatitis, and in 0% to 15% with inactive postnecrotic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, biliary tract obstruction, and alcoholic liver disease. Values greater than 500 mg/ml were observed solely in viral subacute hepatic necrois. Only one patient had a level exceeding 3,000 ng/ml, the concentration at which alpha-fetoprotein is detectable by agar-gel diffusion. Of 75 patients with hepatoma, serum alpha-fetoprotein levels exceeded 40 ng/ml in 69%, and exceeded 3,000 ng/ml in 48%. These studies indicate that serum alpha-fetoprotein levels are elevated in several nonneoplastic hepatic disorders when a sensitive assay is used; this phenomenon may reflect hepatic regeneration.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood; D006506:Hepatitis A / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000097:blood; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005326:Fetal Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins