[Biliary carcinoembryonic antigen, non-specific cross-reacting antigen and biliary glycoprotein--their analysis and...

Bile sample were collected in 17 cases of choledocholithiasis, 28 of malignant obstructive jaundice and 7 of hepatolithiasis and biliary CEA levels were measured by the EIA method. In the malignant obstructive jaundice group, the biliary CEA level was higher than that in the choledocholithiasis group and the bile gave a positive test for CEA more frequently than the serum. As for the hepatolithiasis group, the biliary CEA level was higher than that in the malignant obstructive jaundice group. The EIA method, however, had a possibility that not only CEA but also CEA-related antigens were measured. Therefore, antigen for CEA, NCA and BGP were prepared, and biliary CEA, NCA and BGP levels were measured by the ELISA method. The biliary CEA level (mean +/- S.D.) was 0.086 +/- 0.26 for 21 cases of cholelithiasis, 0.119 +/- 0.24 for 15 of pancreatic carcinoma, and 0.117 +/- 0.016 for 17 cholangiocarcinoma, cholecystic carcinoma, being thus significantly (p less than 0.05) higher in malignant disease. In malignant disease, both biliary NCA and biliary BGP increased, though not so remarkable compared with CEA. Even in controls, the biliary NCA and BGP levels were not negligible.