title: Serum tumor marker CA19-9 in the follow-up of patients with cystic echinococcosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare results of the determination of carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigens, alpha-fetoprotein, and human chorionic gonadotropin before and after surgical and pharmacologic treatment in patients with cystic echinococcosis (CE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were obtained from 40 CE patients (all with cysts in the liver) and from 10 sex- and age-matched healthy donors (control group). Serum samples were drawn (1) before (presurgical group) and after (postsurgical group, including a 3-month cycle of albendazole) surgical and pharmacologic treatment. Serum tumor markers were measured, and indirect hemagglutination assay was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 90% of confirmed cases of CE, indirect hemagglutination assay was positive. Mean (SD) serum CA19-9 concentrations for all patients in the presurgical and postsurgical groups were 45.1 +/- 30 kU/L and 17.02 +/- 11 kU/L, respectively. CA19-9 concentrations were significantly greater in CE patients in the presurgical compared with the control group. Also, increased CA19-9 concentrations decreased significantly in the postsurgical compared with the presurgical group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant decrease in serum CA19-9 concentrations after surgical and pharmacologic therapy was demonstrated in the clinical follow-up of patients with CE (patients were tested 3 months after surgery). If our findings are confirmed and more-sensitive methods are developed for measuring serum CA19-9 concentrations, new and interesting perspectives will be gained for the monitoring and treatment of patients with CE.
authors: First Department of Surgery, Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital, 06100, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey. bulent.yuksel@turktelekom.com.tr
authors: Bulent C
authors: BC
authors: Yuksel
authors: Yiğit
authors: Y
authors: Yildiz
authors: Bulent
authors: B
authors: Ozturk
authors: Huseyin
authors: H
authors: Berkem
authors: Unal
authors: U
authors: Katman
authors: Hakan
authors: H
authors: Ozel
authors: Suleyman
authors: S
authors: Hengirmen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018394:CA-125 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D003560:Cysts / Q000097:blood; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000097:blood; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018394:CA-125 Antigen; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D018396:Mucin-1; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins