Immunoelectrophoretic differentiation of alpha-fetoprotein in disorders with elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein levels or during pregnancy.

Our study aims to make differential diagnosis by immunoelectrophoresis for some common conditions with elevated levels of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). One hundred and nine cases with elevated AFP levels were included in this study: yolk sac tumor (n = 8), hepatocellular carcinoma (n = 26), gastric cancer (n = 12), chronic hepatitis (n = 27) and normal pregnancy (n = 36). Lectin agarose gel electrophoresis, antibody-affinity blotting, and immunoreaction were used to identify the specific patterns of AFP in the respective conditions. The results showed that there were three possible bands: L1, L2 and L3. Yolk sac tumor produced a prominent L2 band and a light L3 band. Hepatocellular carcinoma produced a prominent L1 band and a light L3 band. Gastric cancer produced only an L1 band. Chronic hepatitis had a light L1 band and a pronounced L3 band. In pregnancy, the AFP pattern is similar to that of hepatocellular carcinoma. Immunoelectrophoresis is a useful method facilitating the differentiation of AFP origins.