alpha-fetoprotein is an glycoprotein , secreted by newborn naive liver cells and is also a specific marker of liver cancer , but serum protein positive may not be all liver cancer. Under what circumstances will alpha-fetoprotein appear positive? These three situations usually occur.
1. Pregnant women: The fetus' liver cells are not fully developed and the amount of alpha-fetoprotein secreted is large, so the alpha-fetoprotein in pregnant women will be positive. The alpha-fetoprotein in the pregnant woman will return to normal after one year of delivery.
2. Acute liver injury: When acute damage to liver function caused by various reasons occurs, a large number of liver cell damage will occur and a large number of stem liver cell necrosis will occur. At the same time, the regeneration and repair of the liver have also been initiated, new liver cells are generated in large quantities, and alpha-fetoprotein also increases. Generally speaking, alpha-fetoprotein rises slowly, and as the disease recovers, it gradually returns to normal. Alpha-fetoprotein is an important indicator for evaluating the prognosis of liver failure.
3. Hepatocellular carcinoma: Hepatocellular carcinoma is an undifferentiated liver cell. The tumor cells grow in large quantities and are accompanied by a large amount of secretion of alpha-fetoprotein. Generally speaking, alpha-fetoprotein rises progressively, or abnormally increases to more than 20 times the normal value, and the possibility of hepatocellular carcinoma is highly suspected.
Therefore, abnormal alpha-fetoprotein detection is not all liver cancer. Alpha-fetoprotein detection cannot absolutely rule out liver cancer even if it is normal. It is necessary to dynamically analyze for alpha-fetoprotein , and supplemented with imaging examinations such as B-ultrasound or CT, magnetic resonance, etc.
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