title: Serum alpha-fetoprotein: diagnostic significance in liver disease.
abstract: Raised serum alpha-fetoprotein levels measured by radioimmunoassay were found in 19 out of 24 (79%) patients with primary liver cancer and in 32 out of 311 (10%) patients with other liver diseases. The rise was transient in cases of hepatitis and a transient rise was also seen after alcohol intake ceased in two patients with cirrhosis. alpha-Fetoprotein levels exceeding 500 ng/ml were 30-50 times more common in primary liver cancer than in other liver diseases. A rise in level seems to reflect the extent of liver regeneration in liver diseases other than primary cancer.
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013724:Teratoma / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D005326:Fetal Proteins