SERUM CARCINOEMBRYONIC ANTIGEN (CEA) IN LIVER DISEASES

The diagnostic usefulness and significance of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were studied in 439 patients with cancerous and noncancerous liver disases. The determination of CEA was made by radioimmunoassay. A positive assay (over 2.5ng/ml) was obtained in 82.2% of 62 patients with meatstatic liver cancer, 34.2% of 73 with hepatoma, 51.7% of 112 with liver cirrhosis, 29.3% of 92 with chronic hepatitis and 7.8% of 64 with acute hepatitis, respectively. A very high level (over 10ng/ml) was found in the 60% of CEA-positive patients with metastatic liver cnacer. The marked elevation seen in patients with metastatic disease affecting the liver might result from the increased production of both primary and metastatic lesions. There was a mild elevation of CEA levels in hepatoma, and higher CEA levels tended to be observed in patients with a largersized hepatoma. The serum CEA levels in patients with chronic diffusing liver diseases were frequently elevated: however, they were less than 5 ng/ml in the majority. It might be suggested that the impaired degradation of CEA in the liver and its excretion from the liver due to a deteriorated liver-function are one of the possible interpretations of the reason why CEA rises in chronic liver diseases.