BACKGROUND: Although elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is often seen in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), its prevalence, risk factors, and clinical significance remain to be determined. AIMS: The present study assessed the frequency of, the risk factors for, and the clinical significance of elevated AFP in patients with CHC, but not hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: This retrospective study utilized systematic chart review and statistical analyses to investigate 357 U.S. patients with CHC from a university medical center and a regional veteran administration medical center. RESULTS: The prevalence of elevated serum AFP (i.e., >/=10.0 microg/L) was 23.0%, including 15.3% (28/183), 24.5% (25/102), and 42.0% (29/69) in patients with chronic hepatitis C and stage 0-II, III, and IV hepatic fibrosis, respectively. After adjusting for age, HCV load, and hepatic steatosis, stage III/IV fibrosis, elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and prolonged prothrombin time as measured by international normalized ratio (INR) remained independently associated with elevated serum AFP in these patients. A serum AFP level of 15.0 microg/L was 22.8% sensitive and 94.5% specific for stage III/IV fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic hepatitis C, 23.0% had elevated serum AFP that is independently associated with stage III/IV hepatic fibrosis, elevated level of AST, and prolonged INR.
BACKGROUND: Although elevated serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is often seen in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), its prevalence, risk factors, and clinical significance remain to be determined. AIMS: The present study assessed the frequency of, the risk factors for, and the clinical significance of elevated AFP in patients with CHC, but not hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: This retrospective study utilized systematic chart review and statistical analyses to investigate 357 U.S. patients with CHC from a university medical center and a regional veteran administration medical center. RESULTS: The prevalence of elevated serum AFP (i.e., >/=10.0 microg/L) was 23.0%, including 15.3% (28/183), 24.5% (25/102), and 42.0% (29/69) in patients with chronic hepatitis C and stage 0-II, III, and IV hepatic fibrosis, respectively. After adjusting for age, HCV load, and hepatic steatosis, stage III/IV fibrosis, elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and prolonged prothrombin time as measured by international normalized ratio (INR) remained independently associated with elevated serum AFP in these patients. A serum AFP level of 15.0 microg/L was 22.8% sensitive and 94.5% specific for stage III/IV fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with chronic hepatitis C, 23.0% had elevated serum AFP that is independently associated with stage III/IV hepatic fibrosis, elevated level of AST, and prolonged INR.
Authors: Ke-Qin Hu; Sue L Currie; Hui Shen; Ramsey C Cheung; Samuel B Ho; Edmund J Bini; John D McCracken; Tim Morgan; Norbert Bräu; Warren N Schmidt; Lennox Jeffers; Teresa L Wright Journal: Dig Dis Sci Date: 2007-01-17 Impact factor: 3.199
Authors: Myron John Tong; Thatcher Thi Huynh; Surachate Siripongsakun; Patrick Weijen Chang; Lori Terese Tong; Yen Phi Ha; Edward Alphonso Mena; Matthew Frank Weissman Journal: Hepatol Int Date: 2015-07-30 Impact factor: 6.047
Authors: A Nanashima; Y Sumida; S Tobinaga; K Shibata; H Shindo; M Obatake; S Shibasaki; N Ide; Takeshi Nagayasu Journal: HPB (Oxford) Date: 2006 Impact factor: 3.647