Alpha fetoprotein in liver disease in Papua New Guinea

A radioimmunoassay method was used for the detection of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) in the sera of 112 Papua New Guinean patients who had undergone liver biopsy. Sera from 69 normal subjects and 20 hospital patients were also tested. Alpha fetoprotein was found to be elevated above normal levels in many of these subjects, but particularly in those suffering from viral hepatitis, cirrhosis and primary liver cell carcinoma (PLC). The highest values were found in patients with PLC. It is concluded that because of the elevation of AFP values in all these different types of liver disease the RIA test is not of great value in Papua New Guinea, except in the follow-up of some patients with cirrhosis who are at risk of developing PLC and in those who have undergone treatment for PLC.