Aa
SAFP
What is the SAFP Serum Alpha-fetoprotein test for and what does it represent. I can see that a whole bunch of ppl have gotten it, but I didn't.
Marcia
Marcia
I have a question. I had a routine physical and an afp was drawn. It came back at 16.5. I had numberous other lab tests. No liver problems, no cirrhosis, no hep b or c. There was a spot on my liver, CT guided biopsy shows hemiangioma. My EGD was normal also. Now doctor has ordered MRI of abdomen due to elevated AFP level, which isn't that high since it is only 16.5. Do you know of any other cause for this? Thanks for any input.
Makes sense to me. I had mild elevations of AFP and a small tumor. Turns out the elevation was due to HCC and cirrhosis because the tumor turned out non malignant. Elevated AFP, especially mild, is not a very good indicator of HCC in a patient that has HCV or cirrhosis. However, the cirrhotic patient is much more likely to develop HCC and should be monitored.
I think that while the AFP test is sensitive to HCC, it is not very specific. In other words, conditions other than HCC may cause a significant elevation in AFP levels (often due to HCV infection). I have heard of an AFP-L3 test that is supposedly less sensitive but has specificity so it can distinguish factors other than HCC that raise AFP. Maybe someone can confirm or deny this for me?
I think that while the AFP test is sensitive to HCC, it is not very specific. In other words, conditions other than HCC may cause a significant elevation in AFP levels (often due to HCV infection). I have heard of an AFP-L3 test that is supposedly less sensitive but has specificity so it can distinguish factors other than HCC that raise AFP. Maybe someone can confirm or deny this for me?
Thank you Hector. Your posts are always so informative and professional. Right down to the facts, backed by clinical reports and evidence. I really admire that you are able to be so informed on every subject regarding HCV and how you are able to find all the information.
I had googled it, and all I could find was that it is used during pregnancy.
To all, thank you for you input!
Marcia
I had googled it, and all I could find was that it is used during pregnancy.
To all, thank you for you input!
Marcia
Hector's right on the money there. My husband has an AFP drawn every 3 months because (1) he has cirrhosis and (2) had a prior HCC associated with elevated AFP.
Additionally, increased AFP can be seen in cases of germ cell tumors and prostrate cancer. Also, women during pregnancy have serum AFP drawn during the second trimester (but not to check for liver problems -- it's to check for risk of neural-tube defects).
Additionally, increased AFP can be seen in cases of germ cell tumors and prostrate cancer. Also, women during pregnancy have serum AFP drawn during the second trimester (but not to check for liver problems -- it's to check for risk of neural-tube defects).
Hi Marcia.
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Blood Test -
It is the most widely used biochemical blood test for liver cancer.
(Note: You only need to be tested for HCC if you have cirrhosis)! Which is why most people are unfamiliar with this test. Us cirrhotics get a AFP level and CT scan every 6 months to monitor for HCC. There is about a 4% chance per year of getting HCC when you have cirrhosis.
Several assays (tests) for measuring AFP are available. Generally, normal levels of AFP are below 10 ng/ml. Moderate levels of AFP (even almost up to 500 ng/ml) can be seen in patients with chronic hepatitis. Moreover, many patients with various types of acute and chronic liver diseases without documentable HCC can have mild or even moderate elevations of AFP.
The sensitivity of AFP for HCC is about 60%. In other words, an elevated AFP blood test is seen in about 60% of HCC patients. That leaves 40% of patients with HCC who have normal AFP levels. Therefore, a normal AFP does not exclude HCC. Also, as noted above, an abnormal AFP does not mean that a patient has HCC. It is important to note, however, that patients with cirrhosis and an abnormal AFP, despite having no documentable HCC, still are at very high risk of developing HCC. Thus, any patient with cirrhosis and an elevated AFP, particularly with steadily rising blood levels, will either most likely develop HCC or actually already have an undiscovered HCC.
An AFP greater than 500 ng/ml is very suggestive of HCC. In fact, the blood level of AFP loosely relates to (correlates with) the size of the HCC. Finally, in patients with HCC and abnormal AFP levels, the AFP may be used as a marker of response to treatment. For example, an elevated AFP is expected to fall to normal in a patient whose HCC is successfully removed surgically (resected).
Hector
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Blood Test -
It is the most widely used biochemical blood test for liver cancer.
(Note: You only need to be tested for HCC if you have cirrhosis)! Which is why most people are unfamiliar with this test. Us cirrhotics get a AFP level and CT scan every 6 months to monitor for HCC. There is about a 4% chance per year of getting HCC when you have cirrhosis.
Several assays (tests) for measuring AFP are available. Generally, normal levels of AFP are below 10 ng/ml. Moderate levels of AFP (even almost up to 500 ng/ml) can be seen in patients with chronic hepatitis. Moreover, many patients with various types of acute and chronic liver diseases without documentable HCC can have mild or even moderate elevations of AFP.
The sensitivity of AFP for HCC is about 60%. In other words, an elevated AFP blood test is seen in about 60% of HCC patients. That leaves 40% of patients with HCC who have normal AFP levels. Therefore, a normal AFP does not exclude HCC. Also, as noted above, an abnormal AFP does not mean that a patient has HCC. It is important to note, however, that patients with cirrhosis and an abnormal AFP, despite having no documentable HCC, still are at very high risk of developing HCC. Thus, any patient with cirrhosis and an elevated AFP, particularly with steadily rising blood levels, will either most likely develop HCC or actually already have an undiscovered HCC.
An AFP greater than 500 ng/ml is very suggestive of HCC. In fact, the blood level of AFP loosely relates to (correlates with) the size of the HCC. Finally, in patients with HCC and abnormal AFP levels, the AFP may be used as a marker of response to treatment. For example, an elevated AFP is expected to fall to normal in a patient whose HCC is successfully removed surgically (resected).
Hector
Not sure....but I think it's a tumor marker. I just read about it this morning in the following post:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/529122
I think it's usually just called AFP lab results. I could be wrong and SAFP is a whole diff thing.
I just guessed that they meant AFP when I filled it out on my tracker.
I have only been tested for it once since I was dx, so you may not have been tested for it yet.
Hope this helps
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/529122
I think it's usually just called AFP lab results. I could be wrong and SAFP is a whole diff thing.
I just guessed that they meant AFP when I filled it out on my tracker.
I have only been tested for it once since I was dx, so you may not have been tested for it yet.
Hope this helps
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