title: Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alphafetoprotein (AFP) alpha and beta subunits of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in cerebrospinal fluid of children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
abstract: The cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma levels of CEA, AFP, alpha and beta hCG were determined by radioimmunoassay in 19 children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). CSF in 15 patients at the onset of ALL was examined in the first week after diagnosis and subsequently every two months. In 4 other children in second complete remission of ALL, CSF was examined every two months as well. Elevated values of CEACSF were present in 1/15 patients at the onset of ALL, of AFPCSF 0/15, alpha hCGCSF in 2/15, beta hCGCSF in 2/15 cases. The elevated levels of these markers in CSF became normal in successive lumbar punctures and none of these children developed central nervous system (CNS) relapse in further follow-up. Isolated CNS relapses were diagnosed 13 times in 7 children. Elevated CEACSF levels were found in 6/13 cases (maximum, 25.0 ng/ml) and in one patient CEACSF levels correlated well with pleocytosis. Elevated AFPCSF values were present in 0/13 cases, alpha hCGCSF in 0/13 and beta hCGCSF in 3/13 patients and became normal by the next CSF examination. The determination of CEA, AFP, alpha and beta hCG in plasma did not play a role in monitoring CNS relapse in ALL patients.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D006801:Humans; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000188:drug therapy; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D011379:Prognosis; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D010446:Peptide Fragments; D010908:Pituitary Hormones, Anterior; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins