significance of serum alpha feto protein in malignant and non malignant liver diseases

Serum alpha feto protein [AFP] is a reliable marker for hepato cellular carcinoma [HCC]. In 113 patients with HCC and other hepato biliary diseases, and 45 normal controls, AFP was estimated by radioimmunoassay. It was elevated in 80% of HCC patients compared to 40% and less in other hepato biliary diseases [P < 0.001]. Moreover, the mean value in HCC was 17854 ng/ml, compared to a mean of 18.7 ng/ml which was the highest among the non malignant conditions studied. Again, the specificity of AFP level compared to normal controls, benign liver diseases, and metastatic liver diseases were [100%, 87.3%, and 94.7%] respectively. It seems that serum AFP is a reliable and sensitive marker and is recommended for the early diagnosis of HCC

Serum levels of CA 15.3 in patients with breast cancer: a follow-up study

An immunoradiometric assay [IRMA] has been used to determine circulating levels of the breast-associated antigen, CA 15.3. Eighty patients with breast cancer who had undergone mastectomy have been studied. Using the classification of TNM clinical stage of breast cancer, they were divided into two groups; the group who had local rearrence and-or metastasis [30 patients] and those who were clinically and radiologically disease-free [50 patients]. Their sera levels for the antigen were correlated with normal female individuals [30 subjects]. The sensitivity rate in recurrent or metastatic group was 73.3% and the spedficity for differentiation between this group and disease free was 90%. Among those with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer the CA 15.3 is highest in patients with local recurrence [sensitivity 87.5%]. High sensitivity rate were also found in patients with liver metastasis [80%], bone metastasis [71.4%], and pulmonary metastasis [62.5%]. It is suggested that CA 15.3 measurements for breast cancer patients maybe very valuable for early detection of metastasis or for monitoring the clinical course of the disease

Multiple tumour markers in patients with breast cancer: a follow-up study

Estimtions of serum ferritin, carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA], gamma glutamyl transpeptidase [GGT] and 5- nucleotidase [5-N] have been carried out on 80 patients with breast cancer who had undergone mastectomy. Using the classification of TNM clinical stage of breast cancer, they were divided into two groups: these who had local recurrence on matastasis [30 patients], and those who were clinically and radiologically disease-free [50 patients]. Their sere levels for the above parameters have been correlated with normal females as controls [30 subjects]. In recurrent or metastatic breast cancer the sensitivity rates for serum ferritin CEA, -5-N, and GGT were 70%,40%,40%, and 23.2% respectively, and the specificity for differentiation between this group and disease-free were 66%,94%,80%, and 82% respectively. It is suggested that simultaneous determinations of both CEA and ferritin seem to be of value as sensitive indicators of recurrent or metastatic breast can more unspecific than ferritin and CEA. N and GGT are relatively unsensitive indicators of breast cancer metastasis and more unspecific than ferritin and CEA

Serum Carcinoembryonic antigen and ferritin in bronchogenic carcinoma

To evaluate the prognostic value of carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] and ferritin [FER] in patients with various types of bronchogenic carcinoma, serum levels of these tumor associated antigens were assessed using radioimmunoassay kits in seventy patients and compared with fifty normal healthy subjects as controls. Significantly high levels of both CEA and FER were observed when compared with normal controls [P c 0.001]. The sensitivity rates for CEA and FER in these patients were [81.4% and 85.7%] respectively. The sensitivity rates of CEA and FER among patients with squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, small cell carcinoma, and carcinoid tumor were [89.3%, 84.6%, 50%, 50%] and [73.3%, 78.6%, 50%, 100%] respectively. There was higher sensitivity rates of CEA and FER in patients with metastases [stage II and IV] [91.6%, 91.6%] than those of non metastatic patients [stage I and 2] [71.7%, 63%] respectively. The specificity for differentiantion between bronchogenic carcinoma and normal controls for CEA and FER was 100%. It seems that simultaneous determination of both CEA and FER is of great Value for early detection of metastases and for monitoring patients with broncho genic carcinoma

value of serum ferritin in various hepatic diseases

Serum ferritin was assessed using radioimmunoassay in 103 patients, and 45 controls in order to evaluate the clinical significance of ferritin concentration in various liver diseases. Elevated levels were found in patients with chronic liver diseases [25%], alcoholic liver diseases [37%], extra hepatic biliary obstruction [50%], and viral hepatitis [66%]. Serum ferritin levels in liver malignancies showed significantly high values in hepatomas [60%], and in metastatic liver diseases [50%]. This study highlights the value of serum ferritin concentration in the clinical diagnosis of liver diseases

Alterations in circulating thyroid hormones, thyrotropin and parathormone hormones after subtotal thyroidectomy

Changes in serum T3, T 4. TSH, and PTH concentrations after subtotal throidectomy were observed in two groups of patients, those with non-toxic nodular and multinodular goitre [24 patients] and those with toxic nodular, multinodular, and diffuse goitre [15 patients]. An initial sharp decrease in serumT3 levels without significant change in serum T4 was observed in both groups. A significant increase in serum TSH levels was observed 2-3 days after operation which coincided with a significant decrease in serum T3 levels. PTH levels remained constant in both groups of patients during the ten days of observation. The fall of serum T3 concentrations, was slower in nontoxic group than the corresponding levels in the toxic group. The rate of rise of TSH levels in the nontoxic was slower than those levels in the nontoxic group