Causes of high CA199 include pancreatic cancer, liver, gallbladder and gastrointestinal diseases.
CA199, or glycan chain antigen 199, is a glycoprotein that is present in trace amounts in epithelial tissues such as salivary glands, prostate, pancreas, mammary glands, stomach, and gallbladder in normal people. Its normal reference range is <37,000 U/L.
High CA199 is mainly seen in pancreatic cancer and is considered the tumor marker of choice for pancreatic cancer. In the early stage of pancreatic cancer, its sensitivity can reach 80-90% when the specificity is 95%. However, CA199 serum concentration may not be elevated in a very small number of pancreatic cancer patients.
CA199 can be elevated to varying degrees in the presence of acute pancreatitis, cholelithiasis, acute hepatitis, cirrhosis and other diseases. In addition, its elevation can also be seen in gallbladder cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, gastric cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer and so on. However, due to its low sensitivity in early stage, it has no early diagnostic value.
If there is any discomfort or abnormality, it is recommended to consult a doctor in time for diagnosis and treatment.