Can the production of CA125 be increased in patients with RA or immunological diseases?

[Neta100]

Dr. Goodman:
I was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer based on a transvaginal ultrasound and a CA - 125 result.  I haven't had any bloating, bleeding or irregular periods, and I have had cysts for several years.  I am supposed to get operated, but I have had some periods of fever (between 0.5 and 1.0 degree increase) related to throat or urinary infections which have made it impossible to have surgery.  They had done the CA - 125 marker several times to see if there was any change, but it stayed around the nineties.  The last test was done several days ago, but the value was 37.3, but the normal values were placed between 0 and 21 IU/ml instead of between 0 and 35 IU/ml, which made the doctor doubt about the exam.  I was explained by the chemical biologist that they had changed the reagent and that's why the normal values were different.  So, I looked it up in the net and found that  serum TAA (tumor-associated antigens) including serum rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), and anti-CCP antibody levels, DAS28 were correlated with disease markers like the CA - 125, and that they could increase or lower the value of the marker.

I have had periods of fever over almost 20 years and they have been associated to throat or urinary infections, but also to an immunological disease.  They have run tests of all kinds of immune disorders over the years, but they haven't found anything conclusive.  Even so, I have had cysts in my feet near the ankle and they are related to rheumatoid problems.  

So, my question is can the value of the CA - 125 be elevated to do RA?

[Neta100]

Thanks for the info.  I post it in this community to see if there was anyone who had a similar case like mine.  I already posted it on the expert forum.

[kmoe]

I do not believe they can conclude you have ovarian cancer using CA-125 and US. The Dr. may want to know the US result also. If there was a growth only on the ovary I don't see how they can conlcude cancer. My sister had a huge mass and the US and MRI people said it was a fibroid mass. The CT scan revealed cancer although they wouldn't say so directly but they said looks like an ovarian cancer. Good news is CA-125 staying level or going up and down but not continuously rising indicating "possible" tumor growth.

[silver&gold]

Hi ,
you are not on the doctors forum ,If you go back to the forum index page it is on the righthand side under the heading    Ask a doctors forums.