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Predicate | Object |
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rdf:type | |
lifeskim:mentions | |
pubmed:issue |
1
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pubmed:dateCreated |
1989-1-24
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pubmed:abstractText |
Two hundred ninety patients (203 men, 87 women), age 7 to 74 years (mean: 39.1 years), with chronic hepatitis B virus infection, were prospectively followed for a period of 1 to 4 years to determine the value of alpha-fetoprotein monitoring in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma. At presentation, 66% of the patients were asymptomatic, 19% had chronic hepatitis and 15% had established cirrhosis. Forty-four (15%) patients had elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels on one or more occasions during the study period. Twenty patients with normal alpha-fetoprotein levels at presentation developed elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels during the course of follow-up, whereas 24 patients had elevated alpha-fetoprotein levels at presentation. Six (14%) of these 44 patients (five men and one woman), age 23 to 66 years, had persistent or progressive increase in alpha-fetoprotein levels and were confirmed to have hepatocellular carcinoma. In four patients, the alpha-fetoprotein levels were below 500 ng per ml at the time of tumor localization. Only three patients had resectable tumors. All six patients would have been missed if alpha-fetoprotein screening was restricted to men above the age of 40 with cirrhosis and anti-HBe. Of the remaining 38 patients, elevation in alpha-fetoprotein levels in 18 patients was associated with exacerbations of the underlying liver disease and/or significant changes in level of hepatitis B virus replication, but in 20 patients, no apparent cause could be identified. The elevation in AFP levels exceeded 200 ng per ml in 26% and persisted beyond 6 months in 15% of these patients.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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pubmed:commentsCorrections | |
pubmed:language |
eng
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pubmed:journal | |
pubmed:citationSubset |
IM
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pubmed:chemical | |
pubmed:status |
MEDLINE
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pubmed:month |
Jan
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pubmed:issn |
0270-9139
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pubmed:author | |
pubmed:issnType |
Print
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pubmed:volume |
9
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pubmed:owner |
NLM
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pubmed:authorsComplete |
Y
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pubmed:pagination |
110-5
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pubmed:dateRevised |
2006-11-15
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pubmed:meshHeading |
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-Age Factors,
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-Carcinoma, Hepatocellular,
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-Chronic Disease,
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-Hepatitis B,
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-Humans,
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-Liver Neoplasms,
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-Prospective Studies,
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-Taiwan,
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-Time Factors,
pubmed-meshheading:2461890-alpha-Fetoproteins
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pubmed:year |
1989
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pubmed:articleTitle |
alpha-Fetoprotein monitoring in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection: role in the early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma.
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pubmed:affiliation |
Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
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pubmed:publicationType |
Journal Article,
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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