MARKED INCREASE IN SERUM CA-19-9 LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS - REPORT OF 4 CASES

We report four cases of marked increase in serum carbohydrate antigen (CA 19-9) levels in patients with severe alcoholic cirrhosis without a ny evidence of gastric or pancreatic carcinoma. Brief reports were obt ained from two hepatology units of four cirrhotic patients, three of t hem with alcoholic hepatitis. In the four cases, improvement of liver function and disappearance of jaundice were associated with a decrease to normal serum CA 19-9 levels. These observations show that a marked increase in serum CA 19-9 level in patients with severe hepatic dysfu nction diagnostic of pancreatic or gastric carcinoma.