title: Elevated alpha fetoprotein, no hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Alpha fetoprotein is a fetal specific glycoprotein which falls rapidly after birth. High level of alpha fetoprotein is suspicious of hepatocellular carcinoma but may be elevated in chronic viral hepatitis. A 35-year-old presented to us with jaundice for 7 days. He had chronic hepatitis B infection for last 12 months and was taking medicines irregularly for same. He had high alpha fetoprotein levels (740.9 ng/ml) without evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma which reduced with antiviral therapy. Such elevation can be explained due to hepatic inflammation and viral replication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru 560034, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: Mallikarjun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patil
authors.affiliation: St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: Keyur A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.affiliation: St. John's Medical College, Bengaluru, India.
authors.forename: Channagiri K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Adarsh
keywords: AFP, alpha fetoprotein; ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; ANA, antinuclear antibody; ASMA, anti-smooth muscle antibody; AST, aspartate aminotransferase; GGT, gamma glutamyl transferase; HBeAg, hepatitis B virus e antigen; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; LCA, lens culinaris agglutinin; alpha fetoprotein (AFP); anti-LKM-1, anti-liver kidney microsomal antibody; hepatitis B infection; hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)