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Occurrence of alpha‐fetoprotein in acute viral hepatitis
Author(s) -
Smith J. Bruce
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910080309
Subject(s) - viral hepatitis , malignancy , alpha fetoprotein , gamma globulin , alpha globulin , antibody , hepatitis , ovary , immunology , antigen , biology , alpha (finance) , virology , medicine , pathology , biochemistry , construct validity , nursing , patient satisfaction , hepatocellular carcinoma , gene
Using a very sensitive double antibody electrophoretic technique, we have found alpha‐1 fetoprotein (AFP) to occur transiently in the serum of adults during the course of acute viral hepatitis associated with Australia antigen (Au(1)) but not with acute viral hepatitis unassociated with Au(1). Occurrence in adult serum of this protein, which is a normal embryonic serum alpha‐1 globulin, has heretofore been associated with the presence of either primary hepatic malignancy or certain germinal cell cancers of the testis and ovary. The possible significance of the reappearance of AFP relative to cellular retro‐differentiation in viral hepatitis and hepatic malignancy is discussed.