A case of transient elevation of the serum carcinoembryonic antigen and associated with severe malnutrition and low T3, T4 syndrome.

A patient with a transient elevation of the serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) associated with a benign disease was reported. The elevation of CEA was noted in the patient with low T3, T4 syndrome associated with malnutrition due to malabsorption syndrome induced by post-gastrectomy and chronic pancreatitis. Mild liver dysfunction and diabetes mellitus were also noted. The CEA level decreased as T3, T4 level and malnutrition were improved by administration of a massive digestive enzyme preparation. This inverse correlation between the serum CEA and serum T3, T4 levels suggested that high levels of the serum CEA can be found in the patient with malnutrition.