ObjectiveThere are few studies on the correlation between the concentration of oncoembryonic antigen associated cell adhesion molecule 1(CEACAM1) and osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of CEACAM1 in the early diagnosis of ONFH and the monitoring of the disease by detecting the CEACAM1 concentration in the serum of patients with ONFH and healthy subjects respectively.Methods95 patients, who were hospitalized and diagnosed as ONFH in the Department of No.3 Orthopaedic Ward, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine from May 2016 to November 2016, were selected as the experimental group. In addition, 56 genders and age-matched healthy subjects in our hospital were selected as the control group. The peripheral venous blood was taken and separated by a centrifuge. Their CEACAM1 concentrations were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The differences in CEACAM1 concentrations were analyzed between the two groups, and between patients with ONFH before (ARCO stage I or II) and after (ARCO stage III or IV) collapse as well.Results①The concentration of CEACAM1 in the experimental group was significantly lower than that in the control group [(6.11±2.07)ng/mL vs (7.21±3.76)ng/mL, P=0.022]. ②The concentration of CEACAM1 in Arco stage II[(7.33±1.90) ng/mL] was significantly higher than that in stage III [(6.08±2.26) ng/mL], P=0.037.③The difference of CEACAM1 concentration between before(stage II) and after collapse (stage III or stage IV) was statistically different [(7.33±1.90)ng/mL vs (5.86±2.02)ng/mL, P=0.007].④ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve was 0.710 (0.608-0.798), the sensitivity was 71.79%, the specificity was 58.82%, and the cut off value was ≤ 6.757ng/mL in the diagnosis of collapse of ONFH.ConclusionThe concentration of serum CEACAM1 can be used as a biochemical marker to assist in the diagnosis and monitoring of ONFH, which can provide reference for early diagnosis and monitoring of ONFH.