Extremely Increased Serum Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Levels Caused by New or Resistant Infections to Previous Antibiotics in Chronic Lung Diseases

• DOI: 10.4046/trd.2013.75.3.125
• Publication Date: 2013-10-02T09:45:05Z
• Authors: Ji Young Shin; Su Jin Yoo; Bo Mi Park; Sung Su Jung; Ju Ock Kim; Jeong Eun Lee
• Keywords: 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Case Report; 3. Good health

In this paper, we describe 72-year-old female patient without evidence of malignant disease presented with significantly elevated serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 levels by respiratory infections. She was diagnosed with respiratory infections due to Mycobacterium avium complex and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The serum CA 19-9 levels remarkably increased (1,453-5,300 U/mL; reference range, <37 U/mL) by respiratory infection and abruptly decreased (357-534 U/mL) whenever infection was controlled by specific treatments. This case suggests that serum CA 19-9 levels may be used as a diagnostic marker to indicate new or resistant infections to previous antibiotics in chronic lung diseases without significant changes in chest X-ray findings.