What does a slightly elevated C19-9 test mean?

Question
Hello doctor,
I am over 40 years old, unmarried, a bit overweight, have hepatitis B virus since 2015 but not active according to the results of the early 2020 physical examination. many thick and continuous acne. When I wake up, I often feel pain across the back, not long and after about 1 hour. The most recent test showed normal liver enzymes but a slight increase in C19-9 test. The doctor asked me, what does a slight increase in C19-9 test mean?
Le Hoai Chi (Hanoi)
Answer
Answered by Dr., Doctor Le Thi Huong - General Doctor - Outpatient Department, Vinmec Times City International General Hospital.
Hello,
To the question "What does a slightly increased C19-9 test mean?", the doctor would like to answer as follows:
To diagnose active or advanced hepatitis B, you should perform perform diagnostic measures such as:
Blood tests. Blood tests can detect signs of the hepatitis B virus in the body and can tell how damaging the virus is, whether acute or chronic. HBsAg test: This is a test for viral envelope antigen. HBeAg test: HBeAg is a Capsid antigen fragment of the Hepatitis B virus. The presence of HBeAg indicates that the virus is multiplying and is highly contagious. Anti - HBc test: Anti - HBc is an antibody against the core of hepatitis B virus. HBV -DNA test: Checks the viral replication status in the patient's body. The higher this index, the stronger the virus replication is, and the higher the infectiousness. HBcrAg test: Hepatitis B core-associated antigen. This is the test that best differentiates the stages of chronic hepatitis B. In addition, this test is also significant in helping to predict the risk of liver cancer, accurately predicting the risk of hepatitis B outbreak. HBcrAg also helps predict the possibility of seroconversion and shows superiority. than when monitored with HBeAg and Anti-HBe. Liver and abdominal ultrasound: Liver ultrasound is a special test to determine the extent of liver damage, measure liver fibrosis,... Assess liver function. Testing liver function is important in people with hepatitis, especially hepatitis B. This test can tell your doctor how much of an enzyme the liver makes. Altered liver levels or elevated liver enzymes are also a sign of liver damage or inflammation. Results of liver function tests can help your doctor determine which parts of your liver are working properly.
If this result is not normal, your doctor may recommend diagnostic tests for hepatitis B, C or other liver infections.
CA 19-9 (Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9) is an oligosaccharide with high TLPT (>1 million Daltons), found in the epithelium of the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, liver and pancreas of the fetus. In adults, CA 19-9 is found in small amounts in only a few organs, such as the pancreas, liver, bladder, and lungs. CA 19-9 is the first marker of pancreatic cancer. CA 19-9 is also a useful marker in the diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and liver cancer. CA 19-9 is also increased in some benign gastrointestinal diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, pancreatitis. You should see a specialist in Hepatobiliary Medicine or Infectious Diseases for a detailed examination, diagnosis and consultation.
If you still have questions about CA 19-9, you can go to a hospital under Vinmec Health System for further examination and advice. Thank you for trusting and sending questions to Vinmec. Wishing you lots of health.
Best regards!