Longitudinal Monitoring of Alpha-Fetoprotein by Dried Blood Spot for Hepatoblastoma Screening in Beckwith⁻Wiedemann Syndrome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatoblastoma screening in the Beckwith⁻Wiedemann spectrum (BWSp) is currently based on measuring a specific serum marker alpha-fetoprotein (αFP) every three months until the fourth birthday. Frequent blood draws can be a burden for patients and their families.

Methods

We have developed a less invasive alternative testing method based on measuring αFPs from dried blood spots (DBS). The method was validated with 259 simultaneous plasma and DBS αFP measurements in 171 children (132 controls and 39 patients with BWSp).

Results

The DBS and plasma measurements overlapped across the wide range of αFP concentrations independent of patient age (p < 0.0001), demonstrating the utility of this method for longitudinal monitoring. Occasional differences between

SUBMITTER: Mussa A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6356556 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature