[Increased levels of Ca 19-9, Ca 50 and Ca 125 in patients with benign diseases of the biliary tract and the pancreas].

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the "tumor markers" Ca 19-9, Ca 50 and Ca 195 and benign pancreatic and biliary tract diseases. We measured serum Ca 19-9, Ca 50 and Ca 195 values in 144 subjects with biliary tree diseases (47), chronic pancreatitis (87), and acute pancreatitis (10). Practically all patients with acute cholangitis (20) had marked elevations of serum values of examined markers. Also in acute pancreatitis Ca 19-9, Ca 50 and Ca 195 shows a large number of fase positives (40-50 and 60% respectively). Our results indicate that serum Ca 19-9, Ca 50 and Ca 195 are markedly elevated in patients with acute cholangitis and pancreatitis. Furthermore the markers returns promptly to normal after the resolution of the acute phase of diseases. In general hiperbilirubinemia (greater than 5 mgr) is related with an important number of false positives. Much caution is needed in interpretating markedly elevated levels of serum Ca 19-9, Ca 50 and Ca 195 in patients presenting with jaundice of unclear origin.