Salivary carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in cystic fibrosis.

Increased concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) have been reported in the sera and sputum of patients with cystic fibrosis. We have found significantly higher concentrations of CEA in both extracted and unextracted saliva of patients with cystic fibrosis compared to age-matched controls and a comparable group of patients with bronchial asthma. The mean CEA concentrations in saliva were also somewhat higher in patients with more severe respiratory disease. The concentration of CEA in the saliva of obligate heterozygotes was similar to healthy controls. This suggests that increased salivary CEA in patients with cystic fibrosis relates to the expression of the disease rather than the genetic predisposition.