The pathogenesis of raised serum alpha-fetoprotein levels in amoebic and pyogenic hepatic abscesses.

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) concentrations may be slightly raised in patients with amoebic hepatic abscesses. In an attempt to learn more about the pathogenesis of the raised levels, we studied 74 patients with amoebic and six with pyogenic hepatic abscesses. Serum (AFP) levels were slightly elevated (24-72 ng/ml) on admission in four patients and markedly raised (2000 ng/ml) in one, who had hepatocellular carcinoma in addition to a pyogenic hepatic abscess. The pattern of the early rise in AFP levels could not be determined because these four patients were lost to follow-up. However, serial serum AFP estimations were obtained in 29 patients with a normal value on admission and in none of these did the concentration rise during recovery. Our findings do not support the prevailing hypothesis that regenerating hepatocytes are responsible for the raised serum AFP levels in non-neoplastic hepatic disorders, including hepatic abscesses.