Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Level in Patients with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most prevalent monogenic renal disease, responsible for 10% of the patients on renal replacement therapy, including kidney transplantation. Recently, it was reported that the serum CA 19-9 level is significantly elevated in ADPKD patients without malignancy. Exclusion of malignancy, including tumor marker analysis, is essential in pretransplant evaluation, as well as in assessment of kidney transplantation recipients.

In this study the serum CA 19-9 level in ADPKD patients without malignancy was retrospectively analyzed. The mean level of CA 19-9 was 30.3 U/mL (0.8 U/L-612 U/L).

Overall, in 24 patients (18.8%) the serum CA 19-9 level was increased above the normal level found in the general population (35 U/L), and 5 of them (4.2%) did not experience polycystic liver disease. In 4 patients (3.4%) CA 19-9 level was increased 2-fold above the norm and in 3 of them (2.5%) 3-fold over the norm and higher. A statistically significant negative correlation between serum CA 19-9 level and estimated glomerular filtration rate, both in patients with and without hepatic cysts was observed. In nearly 1 in 5 patients with ADPKD, serum CA 19-9 level should be expected to be above the norm found in the general population, despite the lack of coexistence of a tumor or cholangitis.

This finding should be considered during transplantation qualification and in follow-up examination after kidney transplantation.