Direct acting antiviral-induced dynamic reduction of serum α fetoprotein in hepatitis C patients without hepatocellular carcinoma

AbstractDirect acting antiviral (DAA) treatments may reduce the elevated α fetoprotein (AFP), but data on how these treatments affect elevated AFP in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) remain insufficient. In the present study, the frequency of baseline AFP elevations and their related factors, AFP dynamics during and after DAA treatment, and factors associated wit h AFP reduction was assessed. This retrospective study included 141 patients with CHC without hepatocellular carcinoma who received DAA and achieved sustained virological response. The details are as follows: mean post-treatment follow-up was 99 weeks (12–213); mean age, 57.8 years old; 52%, males ; 79%, genotype (GT) 1; and 47%, cirrhosis. Pre-treatment AFP elevation (> 5.5 ng/mL) was seen in 48.2% patients. On multivariate analysis, baseline AFP> 5.5 was associated with the presence of cirrhosis (P =0.001), coexisting non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (P = 0.035), and GT 1 (P = 0.029). AFP normalization was seen in 28.2% patients at treatment week 2, in 52% at the end of treatment, and in 73.4% at the end of follow-up. Post-treatment week 24 AFP normalization was associated with the absence of cirrhosis (P = 0.003), Child —Pugh score< 6 (P = 0.015), and baseline AFP< 10 (P = 0.015). AFP elevation is common in patients with CHC and independently associated with NASH, cirrhosis, and GT 1. DAA treatment resulted in AFP normalization as early as treatment week 2. Post-treatment week 24 AFP no...
Source: Frontiers of Medicine - Category: General Medicine Source Type: research