Hi Folks,

I've got a bit of a communication problem with my doctor - I live in Asia -
and I'm hoping with your experience you can fill in some blank spots for me a
bit on the AFP test.

I've had hepatitis C for 35 years, and B for 15.  I've had a CT and
ultrasound scans which show nothing other than enlarged lymph nodes, but have
(thus far) no specific symptoms of lymph node disease. I have had significant
weight loss (from 75 to 65 KG) but have gained a bit back. I'm waiting to see
if insurance will pay for a PET/CT scan which has been recommended.

My AFP test is 86, and SGOT and SGPT are about 8 times normal. The last two
have always been 5-10 X normal. My question is about the AFP test. I was told
normal is <10. I found one post in the archives here  from someone who had a
level of 150 but was not seriously ill, and another saying liver cancer would
produce a level of somewhere around 500. I'll like to hear any comments on
that and particularly would like to know if cronic hepatitis could in and of
itself produce the high AFP.

Thanks,

Peter