title: Clinical significance of serum alpha-fetoprotein subfractionation in pediatric diseases.
abstract: Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) subfraction profile is a predictive indicator for the discrimination of hepatic malignancies, benign liver diseases and yolk sac tumor in adults. In the present study, AFP subfractions were examined in AFP-positive sera from 59 patients of less than 15 years of age. Fractionation of AFP was carried out by lectin affinity crossed-line immunoelectrophoresis. Concanavalin A, Lens culinaris hemagglutinin and phytohemagglutinin E were used as lectins. Fifty-four of 59 (91.5%) AFP subfraction profiles in patients with pediatric diseases were classified into three common types: (1) benign liver disorder, (2) hepatic malignancy and (3) yolk sac tumor. An atypical AFP subfraction profile resembling hepatic malignancy type was found in 5 of 59 (8.5%) infants. It was concluded that estimation of serum AFP subfraction profiles facilitates differential diagnosis of various AFP-positive pediatric diseases, such as hepatoblastoma, hepatoma, hepatic cirrhosis, hepatitis or germ cell tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Ohtsu, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishiguro
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018240:Endodermal Sinus Tumor / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007123:Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D037102:Lectins; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins