[Serum alpha-1-fetoprotein and serum lactic dehydrogenase isoenzymes in liver tumours (author's transl)].

Serum alpha-1-fetoprotein (AFP) and serum lactic dehydrogenase isoenzymes (LDH I-V) were evaluated in healthy subjects as well as in 10 patients with primary liver carcinoma, in 10 patients with metastatic liver cancer and in 10 patients with cirrhosis of the liver. The diagnosis was established histologically in all cases. The upper limit of the normal AFP range was 9 ng/ml. Four out of all the patients with hepatocellular or cholangiocellular carcinomas had normal AFP values, 3 showed slightly increased AFP values, whilst a serum AFP concentration exceeding 174 ng/ml - limit which is statistically highly suggestive of hepatoma - was found in only 3 patients. Three out of the patients with metastatic liver cancer and 3 with cirrhosis showed moderately increased AFP values. In primary liver cancer LDH V is increased significantly and 8 out of all patients showed higher values of LDH V than LDH IV. By contrast, patients with metastatic liver cancer had significantly increased LDH IV, which was higher than LDH V in 9 out of all cases. Cirrhotics showed normal LDH isoenzymes. Combining these results, a definitive diagnosis could be made in 9 patients with primary carcinoma of the liver and in 9 patients with metastatic liver cancer.