Monitoring of serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.
Changes in serum alpha-fetoprotein (alpha FP) levels were investigated by radioimmunoassay during the follow-up (17 +/- 12 months, two to three times per year) of 50 children with chronic hepatitis B virus infection (mean age of 8 years, 30 males) and of 35 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Eleven of 50 were healthy carriers; 7 had chronic persistent hepatitis, 29 had chronic active hepatitis, and 3 had cirrhosis-associated chronic active hepatitis. Serum alpha FP levels in controls were found to be always lower than 5 ng/ml (0.1-4.4 ng/ml, mean +/- SD of 1.34 +/- 1.32 ng/ml). Statistical analysis after logarithmic transformation showed a significant difference between mean levels (ng/ml) in controls and in patients [geometric mean = 0.83 C.L. (95% confidence limits of 1.19/0.58) vs. 3.43 (95% C.L. of 4.79/2.45); p = 0.0001]. Mean values of serum alpha FP levels at entry were higher than those found at the end of the follow-up period [geometric mean = 3 (95% C.L. of 4.69/1.92) vs. 1.48 (95% C.L. of 2.13/0.95); p = 0.038]. Only three patients repeatedly showed high alpha FP levels (76.7, 122.8, and 1,600 ng/ml at entry): alpha FP values became normal after a mean follow-up of 17 +/- 7.8 months as well as liver enzymes, with no changes in serum "e" antigen-antibody and anti-delta antibody status being observed. Mean values of serum alpha FP levels in HBeAg-positive patients were significantly higher than in HBeAg-negative patients both at entry and during the follow-up (p = 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Vajro
P
P
Department of Pediatrics, 2nd Medical School of the University of Naples, Italy.
Fontanella
A
A
De Vincenzo
A
A
Lettera
P
P
Greco
L
L
Coppa
A
A
D'Armiento
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase