Carcinoembryonic Antigen: A Predictor of Inflammatory Condition in Patients with Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis?

Abstract

Background: Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillus (ABPA) is a complex non-infectious pulmonary benign disease caused by immune response against to aspergillus. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a tumor marker but also elevated in some benign diseases. Few studies on ABPA with elevated serum CEA levels have been reported. Objects: This study aims to comb the clinical characters of ABPA with elevated serum CEA. Methods: 20 patients diagnosed as ABPA were divided into two groups (CEA normal and CEA elevated) for retrospective analysis. The eosinophil count and ratio, IgE level in the pretherapy and post-treatment were compared. Serum samples of patients with ABPA (n = 20) and asthma (n = 20), healthy controls (n=20) were collected. Levels of cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, GM-CSF, IFN-γ) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: We found that in ABPA patients with normal serum CEA levels, eosinophil counts and IgE levels decreased more obviously after treatment. Besides, we established higher serum levels of IL-4, IL-5, GM-CSF and IFN-γ in ABPA patients with elevated serum CEA levels.Conclusion: For the ABPA patients with elevated serum CEA levels, CEA may serve as a monitoring indicator for severity and treatment efficacy of ABPA.