Signification of Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels in Cases of Compensated Cirrhosis and Hepatitis C Virus without Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Signification of Serum Alpha-Fetoprotein Levels in Cases of Compensated Cirrhosis and Hepatitis C Virus without Hepatocellular Carcinoma. J Med Life. 2020 Jan-Mar;13(1):68-74 Authors: Manuc D, Preda CM, Sandra I, Baicus C, Cerban R, Constantinescu I, Olteanu AO, Ciora CA, Manuc T, Chiriac DE, Chifulescu AE, Diculescu M, Tieranu C, Negreanu L, Oprea-Calin G, Manuc M Abstract AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) levels are increased during the development of HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma); nonetheless, it can also be produced by non-tumoral hepatocytes in conditions of high cell turnover. Our study aims to provide additional data regarding the causes of elevated AFP in patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We conducted an observational prospective cohort study that included 2068 patients with compensated cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis C genotype 1b infection. The two main inclusion criteria were the presence of advanced liver fibrosis - Metavir stage F4 - diagnosed by FibroMax testing, Fibroscan or liver biopsy, and the presence of detectable HCV RNA in the serum. Plasmatic AFP levels were determined through the electrochemiluminescence method, with a standard value ranging from 0 to 7 ng/ml. All data were obtained from the Romanian National Health Agency. The average AFP serum levels in patients with compensated cirrhosis without HCC were 9.4 ng/ml (range 0.5 รท 406 ng/ml); 30.1% of patients had significantly inc...
Source: Journal of Medicine and Life - Category: General Medicine Tags: J Med Life Source Type: research