Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 is significantly elevated in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Liver cysts are the most common extrarenal manifestation in patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) is generally used as a marker for biliopancreatic malignancies, although CA19-9 levels in patients with ADPKD are largely unknown.

A prospective observational study of 53 ADPKD patients and 83 non-ADPKD control subjects was performed. The serum levels of CA19-9 were studied to evaluate the association with clinical parameters and liver cysts.

The serum CA19-9 levels were significantly higher in the ADPKD group than in the control group (32.9 U/mL vs. 9.8 U/mL, respectively, P < 0.001). The serum CA19-9 levels in the ADPKD group were positively correlated with the mean blood pressure (rho = 0.335, P < 0.05), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GTP) levels (rho = 0.541, P < 0.001), the largest cyst size (rho = 0.536, P < 0.001) and the liver cyst volume (rho = 0.682, P < 0.001). Multiple regression analyses showed that the gamma-GTP levels (P < 0.001) and the liver cyst volumes (P < 0.001) were independent predictors for serum CA19-9 levels.

Serum CA19-9 levels are significantly elevated and appear to be dependent on the gamma-GTP levels and the volume of liver cysts in patients with ADPKD. Our findings indicate that the measurement of the baseline CA19-9 level in each patient with ADPKD may be useful for the interpretation of the value and the differential diagnosis of liver diseases, particularly the liver cyst infection.