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© 1996 Oxford University Press

research-article

Prevalence of Abnormal Levels of Serum Tumour Markers in Elderly People

LUIS A. LOPEZ1, VALENTIN DEL VILLAR1, MARIANO ULLA1, FRANCISCO FERNANDEZ2, LUIS A. FERNANDEZ1, IDELFONSO SANTOS1, LUIS RABADAN1 and MARTIN GUTIERREZ3

1Hospital del Insalud Soria, Spain
2Residencia ‘El Parque’ Soria
3Hospital Clinico Universitario de Zaragoza Spain

Address for correspondence: Louis Lopez, C/Rio Aragon 4/3-B, 50003, Zaragoza, Spain

The study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of abnormal levels of several serum tumour markers in an institutionalized elderly population.

Serum tumour markers assay of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), the carbohydrate antigens CA 19-9, Ca 72-4 and CA 15-3 (Enzymun-test, Boehringer Mannheim GmbH Diagnostic), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and prostate specific antigen (PSA) (Abbot Diagnostic Division) were performed in 228 unselected, institutionalized elderly subjects, whose mean age (SD) was 82.4 (5.79) range (66–99 years). Patients with acute or neoplastic diseases were excluded from the study. The serum markers were also measured in 52 healthy young adults (controls).

Using the established threshold values, 92 subjects (40%) were found to have at least one elevated marker. PSA was elevated in 33%, CA 19-9 in 16%, CEA in 11.5%, CA 15-3 in 11%, CA 72-4 in 8% and AFP in 3%. We found a significant difference in the serum levels between the two groups for CEA, CA 19-9. CA 15-3, and PSA (p < 0.001).

Healthy aged people appear to have an elevated prevalence of elevated levels of serum tumour markers. The results suggest that apart from PSA, elevated antigen levels in elderly subjects are related to the ageing process itself rather than to occult pathology.

Revision received June 1, 1995.
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