What are the causes and dangers of high alpha-fetoprotein?

We all need to understand the causes and dangers of high alpha-fetoprotein. The common reason is that liver cancer patients will have these symptoms. It may also be related to non-malignant diseases such as acute and chronic hepatitis, and the recovery period of severe hepatitis, so the harm caused to the body is very great.

1. Causes of high alpha-fetoprotein

(1) Liver cancer is one of the common causes of elevated AFP levels. Normally, the AFP level in normal human serum is less than 20 μg/L. However, when liver cells become cancerous, they regain the ability to produce this protein. According to surveys, about 80% of liver cancer patients have elevated AFP levels in their serum, usually at 400 μg/L. If the level is higher than this, the possibility of liver cancer should be considered. AFP levels are usually elevated 8 months before the onset of liver cancer symptoms. Therefore, patients with cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis, and those with liver cancer in their family should undergo regular checkups based on their own conditions. Therefore, alpha-fetoprotein has certain significance for the early diagnosis of liver cancer.

(2) Pregnant women and newborns may also experience a temporary increase in alpha-fetoprotein, because alpha-fetoprotein is a normal plasma protein component of the fetus and the main protein in the early embryo. The alpha-fetoprotein level in pregnant women will increase significantly, generally 3 months after pregnancy. The amount of AFP in the maternal blood reaches its peak and is relatively stable in July and August, but it is still below 400μg/L and gradually returns to normal levels about 3 weeks after delivery.

(3) High alpha-fetoprotein may be associated with non-malignant diseases such as acute or chronic hepatitis, recovery period of severe hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, congenital bile duct obstruction, and fetal malformation. However, the increase is relatively small and lasts for a short time.

2. The harm of elevated alpha-fetoprotein

1. In adults, about 80% of liver cancer patients have elevated alpha-fetoprotein in their serum, and the alpha-fetoprotein positivity rate in germ cell tumors is 50%. Therefore, high alpha-fetoprotein levels generally mean the occurrence of liver cancer. The level of alpha-fetoprotein in normal human serum is generally less than 20 micrograms per liter, but when liver cells become cancerous, they regain the ability to produce this protein. Therefore, if the level of alpha-fetoprotein is high, the possibility of liver cancer should be considered.

2. High levels of alpha-fetoprotein in pregnant women may mean that the fetus has defects. Alpha-fetoprotein is present in amniotic fluid or maternal plasma and can be used for prenatal monitoring of the fetus. For example, in cases of neural tube defects, spina bifida, anencephaly, etc., alpha-fetoprotein

It can enter the amniotic fluid through the open neural tube and cause a significant increase in alpha-fetoprotein in the amniotic fluid. Congenital defects such as fetal death in the uterine cavity and teratoma may also result in high levels of alpha-fetoprotein in the amniotic fluid. Alpha-fetoprotein can partially enter the maternal blood circulation through the amniotic fluid. In 85% of mothers with spina bifida and anencephaly, high plasma alpha-fetoprotein levels at 16-18 weeks of gestation have diagnostic value, but it must be combined with clinical experience to avoid false positive errors.

3. High alpha-fetoprotein may also be caused by liver damage, congestive hepatomegaly, ataxia, telangiectasia, congenital tyrosinosis, pregnant women (3 to 6 months), testicular or ovarian embryonic tumors (such as seminoma, malignant teratoma, ovarian cancer, etc.).