CANCER ANTIGEN -125: CORRELATION WITH AMOUNT OF ASCITES CAUSED BY CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE

Objective: To find correlation between serum CA-125 levels and extent of ascites in chronic liver disease patients. Methodology: It is analytical study, conducted at Shifa international hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan over a period of one year from January 2012 to December 2012. Total 130 patients with chronic liver disease were enrolled, after confirmation of presence of hepatic cirrhosis on abdominal ultrasonography. Serum cancer antigen 125 level was measured in all patients. Presence of ascites was not made necessary for patients to be enrolled in study. The amount of ascites was confirmed by clinical examination and ultrasonography. The relation of CA-125 level with extent of ascites was drawn. Results: 57% patients had chronic liver disease due to hepatitis C virus infection, Child Pugh score C was in 60% patients. Moderate correlation was present between CA – 125 level and abdominal ascites (r 0.642, p value was less than 0.001). Thus it was observed that CA – 125 levels were significantly raised in patients suffering from ascites. P – value less than 0.001, which was statistically significant. Conclusion: There is moderate correlation between extent of ascites and serum cancer antigen 125 levels in patients with chronic liver disease. Thus CA – 125 can be used as a marker for ascites in CLD patients. Key Words: Chronic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver, ascites, cancer antigen 125.