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What Causes Elevated CEA Levels In Patients With Alcoholic Liver Disease?
Question: i am a 2 time breast cancer survivor who has seen higher cea levels on each visit from 13 upon original diagnosis to 40 in december 2013 and then 40 this month. I do drink alcohol heavily. what is the possibility that alcohol and fatty liver disease could be what has raised my cea levels to be this high?
Brief Answer:
Please find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail and have reviewed medical literalture on CEA and fatty liver.
A research done in 1979 says that "Much of the increase of CEA in many patients with alcoholic liver disease might be secondary to complicating disorders in the respiratory and/or gastrointestinal tracts. This could possible explain why patients with alcoholic liver disease more often than other patients with benign diseases have elevated CEA." This explains finding raised CEA in people with a regular alcohol intake.
Another study done in 2013 showed independent associations between CEA and NAFLD (non alcoholic fatty liver disease) by analyzing data from 200 healthy Korean non-smokers, suggesting that CEA functions in the pathophysiology of fatty liver disease.
Finally it is mentioned that further studies are required to better understand the clinical and pathophysiological significance of findings.
Alcohol does have an effect in raising CEA levels in individuals and recently even non alcoholic fatty liver disease shows increased CEA levels.
Hope you query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please find detailed answer below
Detailed Answer:
Hi
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail and have reviewed medical literalture on CEA and fatty liver.
A research done in 1979 says that "Much of the increase of CEA in many patients with alcoholic liver disease might be secondary to complicating disorders in the respiratory and/or gastrointestinal tracts. This could possible explain why patients with alcoholic liver disease more often than other patients with benign diseases have elevated CEA." This explains finding raised CEA in people with a regular alcohol intake.
Another study done in 2013 showed independent associations between CEA and NAFLD (non alcoholic fatty liver disease) by analyzing data from 200 healthy Korean non-smokers, suggesting that CEA functions in the pathophysiology of fatty liver disease.
Finally it is mentioned that further studies are required to better understand the clinical and pathophysiological significance of findings.
Alcohol does have an effect in raising CEA levels in individuals and recently even non alcoholic fatty liver disease shows increased CEA levels.
Hope you query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further queries related to kidney problems Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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