Effect of obesity‐related plasma hemodilution on serum tumor marker concentration in women

Aim We determined to investigate the effect of plasma hemodilution on tumor marker concentration in obese women. Methods We collected the data for tumor markers (cancer‐associated antigen 125 [CA125], carbohydrate antigen 19‐9 [CA19‐9], carcinoembryonic antigen [CEA] and α‐fetoprotein) from 6917 healthy women who visited the health promotion center at the Chung‐Ang University Hospital from 2003 to 2011. We used multivariate linear regression analysis and χ2‐test for linear‐by‐linear association adjusting for age, alanine aminotransferase and creatinine to determine the association between the serum tumor marker concentrations, plasma volume, tumor marker mass, and body mass index (BMI). Results Higher BMI was significantly associated with higher plasma volume (P