title: Alpha-fetoprotein and its concanavalin A affinity in acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: Serum samples from 20 patients with acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis due to hepatitis B virus and 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma arising from B viral cirrhosis with elevated levels of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) were analyzed by affinity column chromatography for concanavalin A binding. Serum AFP was tested at regular intervals in all of these patients. Acute exacerbation was defined as elevation of serum transaminase greater than 300 IU/L in patients with chronic hepatitis B. In hepatocellular carcinoma, serum AFP levels fluctuated but remained higher than 92 ng/ml, whereas, in acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B, serum AFP levels returned to normal within 3-12 months of follow-up. The results of concanavalin A-binding assay revealed that AFP from both these groups had a high affinity for concanavalin A, and this assay could not be used to discriminate between the two conditions.
authors: Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipai, Taiwan, R.O.C.
authors: S S
authors: SS
authors: Wang
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Govindarajan
authors: S D
authors: SD
authors: Lee
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Ashcavai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000378:metabolism*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D003208:Concanavalin A