What is liver alpha-fetoprotein?
Alpha-fetoprotein is a protein found in people with liver disease. Alpha-fetoprotein is also a "tumor marker" that can be used to determine if a patient has liver cancer (liver cancer is also known as hepatocellular carcinoma). However, the increase of alpha-fetoprotein does not mean liver cancer, and the increase of alpha-fetoprotein may exist for the following reasons:
1. Primary liver cancer
AFP is the most sensitive and specific tumor marker for primary liver cancer. Alpha-fetoprotein levels are generally elevated eight months before symptoms of liver cancer appear. Therefore, alpha-fetoprotein has a certain significance for the early diagnosis of liver cancer.
2. Acute and chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis
Patients with acute hepatitis often decline to normal levels in a short period of time, that is, a "transient elevation" of AFP. Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis can be declining or persistently low levels, while liver cancer is gradually increasing.
3. Pregnant women and newborns
Because alpha-fetoprotein is the normal plasma protein component of the fetus, and is the main protein in the early embryo, the alpha-fetoprotein in pregnant women will be significantly increased, generally in 3 months after pregnancy, the alpha-fetoprotein will be significantly increased, and the AFP level in the blood of pregnant women reaches the peak and is relatively stable in July to August, and gradually returns to normal level after about 3 weeks after delivery.
4. Germ cell tumor
About 50% of patients with germ cell tumors are positive for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).
5. Viral hepatitis
In the active stage of chronic hepatitis, alpha-fetoprotein is slightly and moderately elevated, generally not continuously increased, but decreased and even returned to normal after treatment.
Wizbiotech has developed its own alpha-fetoprotein assay kit (fluorescent immunochromatography), which allows doctors to quickly determine alpha-fetoprotein values, thereby assisting in the diagnosis of liver cancer and other related diseases and providing earlier treatment opportunities. If you need to know more about our products, please contact our sales.
