Evaluation of serum levels and significance of soluble CD40 ligand in screening patients with hepatitis C virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
The study's objective was to evaluate the clinical significance of sCD40L in HCV- associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCV-HCC) patients. Sera concentration of circulating sCD40L and IL-10 were assayed using ELISA in 30 HCVpositive patients with HCC, 30 HCV-positive patients with liver cirrhosis and 30 age-matched healthy volunteers with negative anti-HCV-Ab as a control group. Serum sCD40Lshowed statistically-significant high levels in HCV-HCC patients compared to HCV-cirrhotic patients and normal controls (P < 0.001). Serum sCD40L had higher diagnostic value in HCC patients compared with serum AFP. High sensitivity and specificity of sCD40L was observed compared to AFP (90%, 86.7% and 83% and 80% respectively). Significant positive correlation was detected between serum sCD40L and IL-10(r = 0.85 P < 0.001), AFP (r = 0.62 P < 0.05) and tumour staging (r = 0.5 P < 0.05). The study concluded that sCD40L is a valuable diagnostic tool in early diagnosis and screening for HCV and HCC as well as routine follow up of HCV cirrhosis patients. Assessment of serum IL-10 levels in HCV patients may provide a possible predictive marker for disease progression.
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
S M
SM
Eltaher
Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
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R
El-Gil
Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
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N
Fouad
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
R
R
Mitwali
Hepatology and Gastroenterology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Benha, Egypt.
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H
El-Kholy
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
D023201:CD40 Ligand