If the values gradually decrease, it is a sign that the treatment is being effective. Fetoprotein (AFP) belongs to the 1-globulin family of human plasma proteins and contains approximately 4 carbohydrate. It means that it should not be used to diagnose liver or testicular cancer because AFP levels may be also elevated in a number of benign diseases, including ataxia–telangiectasia or non-malignant liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.ĪFP can also be used to monitor the treatment of a liver or testicular cancer. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is considered as a diagnostic and prognostic tumorous marker for HCC, and up to 70 of HCC patients showed elevated serum levels of AFP. When it is used as a tumor marker AFP has a low clinical sensitivity and specificity. As a tumor marker: It is elevated in case of suffering a type of liver cancer called hepatocellular carcinoma or in case of suffering testicular cancer.The AFP is also used with two other tests, estriol and hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), to assess for Down syndrome.It may be also due to multiple fetuses or because the incorrect estimation of gestational age. Levels greater than the reference values may indicate a neural tube defect in the fetus, such as spina bifida or anencephaly.The test also helps diagnose primary hepatocellular carcinoma in at-risk individuals. The test is usually done in the 15 th - 20 th week of gestation This test is used to distinguish between seminomatous and nonseminomatous testicular germ cell cancer, as well as monitor therapy, and detect recurrence of nonseminomatous testicular germ cell cancer. ![]() As for patients with chronic liver disease, a sustained increase in AFP serum level was shown to be one of the risk factors of HCC and has been used to help identify high-risk subgroup of chronic liver disease 12. In pregnancy: The test for AFP is performed on amniotic fluid to detect specific congenital defects. The alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in serum is currently available diagnostic marker for HCC discovery.The alpha-fetoprotein AFP blood test is usually performed for two main purposes: Alpha-fetoprotein levels are usually undetectable in the blood of healthy adult men or women (who are not pregnant).
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