title: [Is jaundice a cause of error in the interpretation of CA 19-9 blood levels?].
abstract: Serum CA 19-9 has been proposed as a tumour marker for pancreatic cancer (PC). However, false positive results are seen in sera of patients with benign jaundice. The CA 19-9 assay was performed by a solid state radioimmunoassay in 86 icteric patients (total bilirubin greater than 2 mg/dl). 24/86 had PC (12 men, 12 women, mean age 74 years) and 62/86 had benign jaundice (29 men, 33 women, mean age 56 years; cirrhosis: n = 20, angiocholitis: n = 21, hepatitis: n = 21). At a cut-off level of 60 U./ml, for detecting icteric PC, sensitivity was 83%, and specificity was 79%. At 120 U./ml, sensitivity was 79%, but specificity was increased to 92%. We conclude that 21% of patients with benign jaundice had a CA 19-9 level greater than 60 U./ml, and using a CA 19-9 level of 120 U./ml, the specificity of the test to detect icteric PC was increased, with little decrease in the sensitivity.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakad
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Colombel
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Geubel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cerulus
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farchakh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Degrez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cortot
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Paris
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dive
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007565:Jaundice / Q000276:immunology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
vernacular_title: L'ictère est-il une cause d'erreur dans l'interprétation du CA 19-9 sérique?