Serum alpha fetoprotein in 714 mentally retarded carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen.
Sera from 714 mentally retarded carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen were screened for alpha fetoprotein (AFP) by monoclonal radioimmunoassay. Serum AFP levels were less than 20 mcg/L in 708 (99.2%) carriers. One 29-year-old carrier with normal liver function had serum AFP level of 1500 mcg/L, which increased to 12,500 mcg/L after 72 days. She died of multifocal hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhosis. Five other carriers with serum AFP levels between 20 and 165 mcg/L are alive without clinical HCC. No correlation was found between serum AFP level and race, age, sex, Down's syndrome, serum alanine aminotransferase level, and hepatitis B e antigen positivity. Single cross-sectional serum AFP screening by itself is not sufficient for early diagnosis of HCC.
Lohiya
G
G
Infections Disease Section, State Development Research Institute, Costa Mesa, CA 92626.
Lohiya
S
S
Fischer
T
T
Nguyen
H
H
Vuu
T
T
Humerez
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000097:blood* / Q000382:microbiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis*
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins