Abstract Cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) is usually elevated in ovarian cancer. However, there are
several reports that serum CA-125 is elevated in tuberculosis.
Aim of the work: This study was done to evaluate the diagnostic value of serum level of CA-125
in active pulmonary tuberculosis and its relation to disease severity.
Subjects and methods: The study enrolled 80 patients who were selected from Damietta Chest
Hospital and Chest Department, Benha University Hospitals in the period from July 2013 to July
2014. The subjects were classified into 3 groups: group I: included 40 patients with new diagnosed
active pulmonary tuberculosis, group II: included 20 patients with pneumonia, group III: included
20 apparently healthy subjects as control group. The patients were subjected to full history taking,
full clinical examination, plain chest X-ray PA view, sputum examination for AFB for three successive
days by direct smear for group I & II, tuberculin skin test, CBC and ESR and serum level of
CA-125 by ELIZA.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference among the three studied groups according
to the serum level of CA 125 as it was significantly higher in group I. The study revealed that serum
CA 125 levels in group I was significantly higher in far advanced and moderate advanced disease
than minimal lesion one. There was a statistically significant difference in serum CA 125 levels in
group I regarding the results of sputum analysis for AFB. Serum level of CA125 at a cut off value
of 21.05 U/ml has sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, accuracy of 82.5%, 72.5%, 77.3%, 83.3% and
80.0% respectively in diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis.
Conclusion: Serum CA-125 may be used as a marker for diagnosis and assessment of severity of
active pulmonary tuberculosis