Serum Alpha-fetoprotein Level is Higher in Hepatitis C Than Hepatitis B Infected Chronic Liver Disease Patients

Overview

Journal Niger Med J

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2014 Mar 26

PMID 24665160

Citations 2

Authors

Mathias Abiodun Emokpae

Babatunde Gabriel Adejumol

Aliyu Abdu

Nasiru Magaji Sadiq

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The frequency of raised serum alpha-fetoprotein may vary in relation to hepatitis B or C infection in chronic liver disease (CLD). The study evaluated the frequency of hepatitis B and C in patients with chronic liver disease and correlated the levels of serum alpha-fetoprotein with hepatitis B and C infection in the patients.

Materials And Methods: Eighty-six patients with CLD were recruited for the study. Fifty subjects, with no CLD were used as control. Hepatitis B surface Antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis C antibody were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique (Human diagnostics, Germany and HCV Murex 40 Anhet laboratories, USA) while liver function tests were evaluated using express plus chemistry auto analyzer. Alpha-fetoprotein was assayed using ELECSYS 1010 auto analyser.

Results: There were 60 males and 26 females, with a mean age of 46 + 6.5 years, while the controls were 25 males and 25 females with a mean age of 41 ± 2.5 years. Thirty-six subjects (41.7%) were seropositive for HBsAg while 24 (27.9%) were seropositive for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) antibody. The mean alpha fetoprotein level was 359 ± 9.9 ng/mL while mean control value was 1.93 ± 0.24 ng/mL. Liver function test parameters were elevated compared with control subjects (P < 0.001). The increase in serum alpha-fetoprotein was higher (P < 0.001) in HCV than HBsAg positive patients.

Conclusion: Serum alpha-fetoprotein level was highest in HCV compared to HBsAg positive and hepatitis negative patients with CLD.

Citing Articles

Hepatitis B and C Virus Co-Infection and Their Association With Liver Disease in Persons With HIV in Nigeria.

Odeghe E, Oyeleke G, Odofin M, Duguru M, Davwar P, Nyam D J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care. 2024; 23:23259582241292511.

PMID: 39469965 PMC: 11528674. DOI: 10.1177/23259582241292511.

Dynamics of serum α-fetoprotein in viral hepatitis C without hepatocellular carcinoma.

Isac T, Isac S, Ioanitescu S, Mihaly E, Tanasescu M, Balan D Exp Ther Med. 2021; 22(1):749.

PMID: 34035846 PMC: 8135122. DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10181.

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