when alfa fetoprotein elevated?
487374
There are a number of different possibilities. If you have twins or more you'll have elevated alpha-fetoprotein. It can also be the result of miscalculating the age of the fetus (a fairly common occurance). However, it can also be more serious indicating that your baby has a "neural tube defect" basically meaning that the spinal cord failed to close properly. There are other conditions such as anencephaly of the fetus or defects in the abdominal wall of the fetus that can cause this as well.
568704
pregnant?\n\nkeep them elevated
104853
All of the above reasons. Plus, if a patient is on heparin, he/she will have elevated aPTT levels too.
1125067
Early detection is the answer. \n Speak with your doctor about when is a good time to start testing ?
411844
Pregnancy tests detect the level of a particular hormone, beta-HGC, in the urine. In pregnancy, the level increases, which is what causes a positive reading on the pregnancy test.\n\nbHCG levels are also raised in testicular cancers, and in "molar pregnancies" in women, a form of cancer in the uterus caused by a genetic disorder where a sperm enters an egg without a nucleus, or where two sperm enter the same egg. This causes formation of a tumour, and the embryo dies early in the pregnancy and is resorbed. \n\nAs far as I am aware, these are the only two types of cancer which cause raised bHCG levels. In a molar pregnancy this would cause raised levels in the urine, but I think in cases of testicular cancer the levels would be raised in the blood rather than the urine.\n\nIf you are concerned that you have some form of cancer, the best thing to do is consult a doctor!!!
757291
Liver functions & liver enzymes can be in the normal range even when you have Hep C. 40% of people with HCV have enzymes in the normal range. If I were you, I would redo the hepatitis screening test. It should be either "reactive" or "non-reactive"; if it is non-reactive, then you have not been exposed. If it is reactive, then you will need another test to determine if you have chronic, active hep c. That test is the HCV PCR RNA. If that one comes back detecting any number , then that means you have Hep C. Best wishes to you.
949189
A. positive just took a test on this today
449015
A standard pregnancy test detects the amount of a hormone called HCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), which is present in greatly elevated levels in the urine (or blood) during early pregnancy. This elevated level may not be high enough to be detected in a given sample, and it increases over the first weeks of a pregnancy so if it's not positive the first time, it may be a few days later.
1043396
yeah, if i remember right (its been awhile sorry if im wrong) its usually a sign of a liver problem (often steatosis/"fatty liver", cirrhosis, cancer, etc.) but can be from bone problems too. also, some drugs can alter ALP levels and if that's why yours is elevated then its probably not anything to worry about. its actually called "alkaline phosphatase" or "ALP" if you were having trouble finding stuff about it in searches. it can mean a lot of different things so youd have to discuss it with your doctor as to what the problem is and if it is something significant or nothing important.\n\nand in response to the other guy's answer, you probably dont have HIV... that might alter levels but that's not anywhere near the top of the list of likely causes.... a lot of thing can affect ALP.\n\nlike I said, hard to tell if its anything that should concern you or not, youd have to see what your doc thinks about it
1146816
Elevated liver enzymes are a direct result of hepatic (liver) cell destruction. This could be caused by many different things including hepatitis, cirrhosis, obstructions, and cancer. To name a few, of course there are others. Your physician would be able to identify which enzymes are elevated. There are several different enzymes which are tested (ask you MD). This question is hard to answer because it depends on what your diagnosis is. For instance if you have acute hepatitis, then no your enzymes would not decrease. It really depends on what the cause is. I wish you luck. :) Think positive!\n\n\n*** Just an FYI: secondary to the next person's response. A nephrologist studies Kidneys, not the liver. I would go to either your primary care doctor or a GI specialist, not a nephrologist.
137816
This test is most often performed when kidney disease is suspected. It may be used as a screening test.\n\nNormally, protein is not found in urine when a routine dipstick test is performed. This is because the kidney is supposed to keep large molecules, such as protein, in the blood and only filter out smaller impurities. Even if small amounts of protein do get through, they are normally re-absorbed by the body and used as a source of energy.\n\nSome proteins will appear in the urine if the levels of protein in blood become high, even when the kidney is functioning properly.\n\nIf the kidney is diseased, protein will appear in the urine -- even if the blood levels are normalNormal Values:\n\n\nFor a spot check by dipstick: the normal values are approximately 0 to 8 mg/dl. Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories.\nFor a 24-hour test: the normal value is less than 150mg per 24 hours.\nNote: mg/dl = milligrams per deciliter\n\nWhat abnormal results mean:\nAbnormal results may mean an increase in urine protein, and this may indicate: \n\nAmyloidosis\nBacterial pyelonephritis\nBladder tumor\nCongestive heart failure (inadequately perfusing the kidneys)\nDiabetic nephropathy\nGlomerulonephritis\nGoodpasture's syndrome\nHeavy metal poisoning\nLupus erythematosus\nMalignant hypertension\nMultiple myeloma\nNephrotic syndrome\nNephrotoxic drug therapy\nPolycystic kidney disease\nPreeclampsia\nAdditional conditions under which the test may be performed: \nAcute nephritic syndrome\nComplicated UTI (pyelonephritis)\nEclampsia\nHemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS)\nInterstitial nephritis\nMedullary cystic disease\nMembranoproliferative GN I\nMembranoproliferative GN II\nMembranous nephropathy\nNecrotizing vasculitis\nPost-streptococcal GN\nRapidly progressive (crescentic) glomerulonephritis\nReflux nephropathy\nRenal vein thrombosis\nRocky mountain spotted fever
1124467
I am going through the same thing.  Do not listen to the idiot who said its thyroid cancer. You don't know that and from everything I've read thyroid cancer is very rare and one of the most curable.  I found out I had an enlarged thyroid by accident.  Had the bloodwork done and my TSH was almost 9 so they started me on the meds.  In the meantime I had the ultrasound which showed it was enlarged and had growths on it.  Now I am in a waiting game.  I need a radioactive iodine uptake test but can't do that on the meds, you have to be off of them for one month.  So now I have stopped the meds. and have to wait until the middle of July.  Sigh..................Have you had the ultrasound and uptake test?
1126855
Usually Liver enzymes but they can be found in out parts of your body.  They are high.  \nNormals are AST (0-36) ALT (0-37).\n\nI would talk to you doctor.  \nA thorough history, past medical history and physical is very important.\n\nDo you drink alcohol regularly or take any medications?\nYou will need to check Hepatitis C and B.\nUltrasound of the liver.\nThese are the basic test to run. \n\nIf these are all normal, there are other rarer disorders to check for.\n\nNot quite sure why you listed this under respiratory diseases.  There are respiratory diseases that can give you abnormalities with your liver enzymes.
500564
What is the normal range for CEA blood levels?\nThe normal range for CEA in an adult non-smoker is <2.5 ng/ml and for a smoker <5.0 ng/ml.\n\nHow is the CEA test used?\nThe best use of CEA is as a tumor marker, especially for cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. When the CEA level is abnormally high before surgery or other treatment, it is expected to fall to normal following successful surgery to remove all of the cancer. A rising CEA level indicates progression or recurrence of the cancer. In addition, levels >20 ng/ml before therapy are associated with cancer which has already spread (metastatic disease).\n\nWhat conditions can cause an elevated CEA?\nBoth benign and malignant (harmless and cancerous) conditions can increase the CEA level. The most frequent cancer which causes an increased CEA is cancer of the colon and rectum. Others include cancers of the pancreas, stomach, breast, lung, and certain types of thyroid and ovarian cancer. Benign conditions which can elevate CEA include smoking, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign tumors in the same organs in which an elevated CEA indicates cancer. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can cause a temporary rise in CEA due to the death of tumor cells and release of CEA into the blood stream. Benign disease does not usually cause an increase above 10 ng/ml.
1021122
The C is for the overal consentration of the protein.  Like BAC(blood alcohol content)  it is looking for how much of something is in another.\n\nIt is not a new test, but it is a test in the news. CRP, also known as C-Reactive Protein, is a test which measures the concentration in blood serum of a special type of protein produced in the liver that is present during episodes of acute inflammation or infection. In the body, CRP plays the important role of interacting with the complement system, an immunologic defense mechanism.\n\nIt's value is as a general indicator, not specific.\n\nIt must be noted that even in known cases of inflammatory disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, a low CRP level is possible, and is not indicative of no inflammation.\n\nNormally there is no CRP in blood serum. From Lab Tests Online, "a high or increasing amount of CRP in your blood suggests that you have an acute infection or inflammation. Although a result above 1 mg/dL is usually considered high for CRP, most infections and inflammations result in CRP levels above 10 mg/dL".\n\nA positive CRP may be an indicator of several conditions, including:\n\nrheumatoid arthritis \nrheumatic fever \ncancer \ntuberculosis \npneumonia \nheart attack \nlupus\n\nA positive CRP also can be detected during the last half of pregnancy or with the use of oral contraception.\n\nSedimentation Rate\n\nAnother blood test often ordered in conjunction with CRP is known as ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate or sedrate). Both CRP and ESR give similar information about non-specific inflammation. CRP appears and disappears more quickly than changes in ESR. Therefore, your CRP level may drop to normal following successful treatment, whereas ESR may remain elevated for a longer period.\n\nMost recently, CRP has made headlines as it relates to heart disease. New studies indicate CRP may be elevated in heart attacks. It is yet to be determined if CRP serves as a marker of heart disease or whether it plays a part in causing atherosclerotic disease (hardening of the arteries).\n\nThere is also a high sensitivity CRP test (hs-CRP) in addition to the regular CRP test. The hs-CRP measures very low amounts of CRP in the blood and is typically used to assess risk for heart problems.\n\nAs a blood test, CRP is not specific. A high result serves as a general indication of acute inflammation. In cases of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, doctors can utilize the CRP test to assess the effectiveness of a specific arthritis treatment and monitor periods of disease flareup.
841427
A blood test can usually detect early pregnancies.
130261
Liver disease can cause high ALT, but taken together with a high alkaline phosphatase level, it is more likely a cholestatic cause, e.g., something common like gallstones can cause it too.  However, wait for the results of the tests before you jump to any conclusions.