title: Differential reactivity of alpha-fetoprotein with lectins and its usefulness in the diagnosis of various liver diseases.
abstract: Serum from 38 patients with liver disease and elevated serum AFP concentration was subjected to affinity chromatography on concanavalin A (Con A) and lentil lectin. More than 70% of the serum AFP of the 18 patients with primary liver cancer (PLC) or the 12 patients with cirrhosis or chronic active hepatitis (BLD) bound to Con A, less than 70% of the serum AFP of 8 patients with metastatic liver disease (MLD) bound to Con A. On the other hand less than 20% of the serum AFP of the BLD patients but more than 20% of the serum AFP of the PLC or MLD patients bound to lentil lectin. Thus reactivity of serum AFP towards Con A and lentil lectin provides a simple test that can be used in the differential diagnosis of BLD, PLC and MLD.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037121:Plant Lectins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C033619:lentil lectin; D003208:Concanavalin A