Abstract
Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection which is chronic has been globally a leading factor for the incidence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) has been a marker for tumors and liver damage, the association between non-HCC patients and HCV viral load is still uncertain.
Objective: To figure out how serum AFP levels and HCV viral load in chronic HCV infected patients are related and to delineate demographic and clinical features linked to high AFP.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 37 chronic HCV positive patients from the Molecular Department, Farooq Hospital Laboratory in Lahore. Information was collected on demographic aspects, smoking habits and family history of liver disease. Real-time PCR was used for the measurement of HCV RNA viral load whereas, Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used for the determination of AFP levels. Descriptive statistics were calculated and Spearman’s rank correlation was applied to evaluate the relationship between AFP and HCV viral load.
Results: Among 37 patients, there were 20 (54%) females and 17 (45%) males with the mean age of 51.1 ± 13.3 years. Most of the patients (40.5%) were aged 51-65 years. Smoking was a history in 15 (40.5%) and missing in 22 (59.5%); family history of liver disease was positive in 12 (32.4%). A weak positive but not statistically significant relationship was observed between AFP and viral load according to Spearman’s correlation (r=0.283, p=0.090).
Conclusion: Among chronic HCV-infected patients, elevated AFP levels were seen frequently, but AFP was not significantly related to HCV viral load. However, AFP continues to be a reliable indicator for liver damage and HCC risk, and thus cannot be used as a viral load surrogate on its own. For best monitoring of HCV-related hepatic disease, it is advised to have regular AFP monitoring along with virologic and imaging evaluations.
Keywords: alpha-fetoprotein, hepatitis C virus, viral load, hepatocellular carcinoma, biomarker.
Objective: To figure out how serum AFP levels and HCV viral load in chronic HCV infected patients are related and to delineate demographic and clinical features linked to high AFP.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 37 chronic HCV positive patients from the Molecular Department, Farooq Hospital Laboratory in Lahore. Information was collected on demographic aspects, smoking habits and family history of liver disease. Real-time PCR was used for the measurement of HCV RNA viral load whereas, Chemiluminescent immunoassay was used for the determination of AFP levels. Descriptive statistics were calculated and Spearman’s rank correlation was applied to evaluate the relationship between AFP and HCV viral load.
Results: Among 37 patients, there were 20 (54%) females and 17 (45%) males with the mean age of 51.1 ± 13.3 years. Most of the patients (40.5%) were aged 51-65 years. Smoking was a history in 15 (40.5%) and missing in 22 (59.5%); family history of liver disease was positive in 12 (32.4%). A weak positive but not statistically significant relationship was observed between AFP and viral load according to Spearman’s correlation (r=0.283, p=0.090).
Conclusion: Among chronic HCV-infected patients, elevated AFP levels were seen frequently, but AFP was not significantly related to HCV viral load. However, AFP continues to be a reliable indicator for liver damage and HCC risk, and thus cannot be used as a viral load surrogate on its own. For best monitoring of HCV-related hepatic disease, it is advised to have regular AFP monitoring along with virologic and imaging evaluations.
Keywords: alpha-fetoprotein, hepatitis C virus, viral load, hepatocellular carcinoma, biomarker.