Differential reactivity of alpha-fetoprotein with lectins and its usefulness in the diagnosis of various liver diseases.
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.
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*
D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; C033619:lentil lectin; D003208:Concanavalin A