Determination of alpha-fetoprotein by radioimmunoassay. Ten year experience in applying a locally produced kit.

Increased concentrations of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) occur in several physiological (pregnancy) and pathological (liver regeneration, tumour formation etc.) conditions. Measurement of serum AFP levels may assist in the detection of fetal abnormalities during pregnancy, in the detection of renewed tumour growth and metastases in cases of AFP producing tumours and in monitoring some diseases of the liver. In this paper some results are given concerning the follow-up of some patients with tumours of the testis and the possibilities of determining the source of elevated serum AFP (regenerating hepatocytes, malignant liver cells, hepatic metastases from other tissues) in patients with liver diseases.