title: Alpha-fetoprotein alterations in alcoholics with liver disease. V.A. Cooperative Study Groups.
abstract: Sera on 409 male alcoholics with liver injury were assayed for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as part of a VA co-operative study on the natural history and therapy of alcoholic liver disease. In 78% of the patients values below normal were observed and 42% had undetectable levels. Clinically the lowest AFP concentrations were observed in the more severely ill patients with the poorest 1 year survival. Furthermore, improvement in AFP was associated with improved survival. Correlation analysis showed a relationship of AFP to (1) visceral protein concentrations (i.e. albumin, transferrin, retinal binding protein); (2) variables related to hepatic fibrogenesis (i.e. Ito cell activity, quantitative estimates of fibrosis and Kupffer cell abnormalities); and (3) changes in immunoglobulin levels particularly IgG. These findings suggest that AFP is a good index of disease prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Administration Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Mendenhall
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chedid
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Roselle
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Grossman
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Weesner
authors.forename: P S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Gartside
mesh_terms: D000437:Alcoholism / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D001706:Biopsy; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins