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Serum carcinoembryonic antigen correlates with severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

CROOKS, MICHAEL G.; CAMPBELL, ANNE P.; MORICE, ALYN H.; HART, SIMON P.; Fahim, Ahmed; Crooks, Michael; Wilmot, Rachel; Crooks, Michael G.; Campbell, Anne P.; Morice, Alyn; Morice, Alyn H.; Hart, Simon; Hart, Simon P.

Authors

MICHAEL G. CROOKS

ANNE P. CAMPBELL

ALYN H. MORICE

SIMON P. HART

Ahmed Fahim

Rachel Wilmot

Michael G. Crooks

Anne P. Campbell

Alyn H. Morice

Simon P. Hart



Abstract

Background and objective: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the commonest idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and carries a poor prognosis. Epidemiological evidence suggests that patients with IPF have an increased risk of developing lung cancer. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) has a close association with epithelial malignancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum CEA concentrations in patients with IPF and to perform correlation with pulmonary function. Methods: Serum CEA concentrations were measured by two-site sequential chemiluminescent immunometric assay in 41 non-smoking patients with IPF. Patients with a history of gastrointestinal tract malignancy or other disorder known to be associated with raised serum CEA were excluded. Results: A total of 41 patients were evaluated. The mean (±standard deviation) age of patients was 73±7years. The mean (±standard deviation) forced vital capacity was 88±20% of predicted, and the mean (±standard deviation) diffusing factor for carbon monoxide (DLco) was 52±19% of predicted. Twenty-one (51%) patients had a serum CEA concentration higher than upper limit of the normal range (0–5ng/mL). CEA concentration was significantly negatively correlated with lung function (P=0.005; R2=0.20 for forced vital capacity and P=0.006; R2=0.20 for DLco). Raised CEA level also correlated significantly with the extent of fibrosis. A lung biopsy specimen from a patient with IPF demonstrated strong staining for CEA in metaplastic epithelium lining the honeycombed cysts and respiratory bronchioles. Conclusions: Serum CEA concentration is elevated in approximately half of patients with IPF and is correlated with disease severity. Immunohistochemical staining reveals that CEA localizes to metaplastic epithelium lining honeycombed bronchioles.

Citation

Fahim, A., Crooks, M., Wilmot, R., Campbell, A. P., Morice, A., & Hart, S. (2012). Serum carcinoembryonic antigen correlates with severity of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Respirology : official journal of the Asian Pacific Society of Respirology, 17(8), 1247-1252. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1843.2012.02231.x

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 5, 2012
Online Publication Date Oct 25, 2012
Publication Date 2012-11
Print ISSN 1323-7799
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 17
Issue 8
Pages 1247-1252
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1843.2012.02231.x
Keywords Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/417791
Publisher URL https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1440-1843.2012.02231.x