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Factors associated with serum CA19-9 levels among healthy children: a cross-sectional study

Sayo Kawai1, Sueli M Oba-Shinjo2, Lucy S Ito3

  • 1Department of Preventive Medicine, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Japan.

BMC Clinical Pathology
|December 5, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Serum CA19-9 levels are higher in children than adults and vary by sex and physical growth. These findings are crucial for understanding normal ranges in pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Clinical Chemistry
  • Human Genetics

Background:

  • CA19-9 is a tumor marker primarily used for adults with biliary tract, pancreas, and colorectal cancers.
  • Normal serum CA19-9 ranges in children are not well-established.
  • This study investigates CA19-9 distribution in healthy children and their parents, considering genetic and physical factors.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the normal range of serum CA19-9 in cancer-free children.
  • To analyze the influence of age, sex, Lewis (Le) and secretor (Se) gene polymorphisms on CA19-9 levels.
  • To explore the association between CA19-9 levels and physical growth parameters (BMI, height, weight) in children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study of 972 healthy Japanese Brazilians, including 476 children aged 1-19 years.
  • Serum CA19-9 levels were measured and analyzed across different age groups and sexes.
  • Statistical analysis included ANOVA, adjusted for sex, and consideration of Lewis and secretor genotypes, BMI, height, and weight.

Main Results:

  • Serum CA19-9 levels were higher in younger children and in girls compared to boys.
  • Significant differences in geometric means were observed across four age groups (p=0.006).
  • CA19-9 levels showed significant associations with BMI, height, and weight in children (excluding le/le genotype), even after adjusting for age and genetics.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric serum CA19-9 levels are generally higher than adult levels.
  • Sex, height, weight, and BMI significantly influence CA19-9 levels in children, independent of age and Lewis/secretor genotypes.
  • These findings establish crucial reference ranges for CA19-9 in pediatric populations.
Abstract

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