title: Serum alpha-fetoprotein level is higher in hepatitis C than hepatitis B infected chronic liver disease patients.
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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum alpha-fetoprotein level was highest in HCV compared to HBsAg positive and hepatitis negative patients with CLD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Kano, Nigeria ; Department of Chemical Pathology Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Mathias Abiodun
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Emokpae
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Babatunde Gabriel
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Adejumol
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Aliyu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Nasiru Magaji
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Sadiq
keywords: Alpha fetoprotein; HBsAg; HCV antibody; chronic liver disease