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Published:
Nov 30, 2023DOI:
10.4314/rjmhs.v6i3.9Keywords:
Article Details
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Main Article Content
Prognostic Significance of Alpha-Fetoprotein in Staging of Chronic Hepatitis B Infection
Abstract
Background
Ascertaining the stage of chronic hepatitis-B infection (CHBI) remains one of the major predicaments to effective therapeutic decision. There is pressing need to forestall dearth of such reliable biomarker(s). Despite the promising tendency of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), it has not been assessed in staging CHBI.
Objective
This study was to determine the prognosis of serum AFP as a biomarker for staging CHBI.
Methods
Participants were grouped into three based on their hepatitis-B envelope antigen (HBeAg) status and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level. By denoting HbeAg(+) as (EP), HbeAg(-) as (EN), elevated ALT as (H) and normal ALT as (I), the stages were EPH, ENH and ENI. AFP was assayed, One-way ANOVA, Multivariate linear regression and area under curve were adopted for the analysis.
Results
AFP was significantly elevated, (P < 0.05) in EPH, which equally has the highest prevalence of elevated AFP (64.7%). After adjusting for confounding factors, odds ratio was 1.438 (95% CI, 0.62–1.948), while area under the curve for predicting EPH was (0.828, 95% CI, 0.778 –0.895).
Conclusions
The finding of elevated AFP in CHBI is an independent prognostic marker of EPH. It is often associated with necroinflammation; thus, it is a reliable indicator for treatment initiation.
Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2023;6(3):355-366
