Assessment of Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha and alpha-fetoprotein in HCV-related chronic liver disease patients

ABSTRACT

This study included two groups of HCV-related chronic liver disease [CLD] patients, 30 patients with compensated CLD, 30 patients with decompensated CLD in addition to 20 apparently healthy individuals who served as controls. For all the subjects, the following tests were done; complete history, clinical examination hemoglobin concentration and platelet count, liver function tests [LFTs], TNF-alpha and AFP. TNF-alpha and AFP measurement was done employing state-of-the-art solid-phase two-site chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assay automated analyzer [immulite]. The study showed that there was significant elevation of TNF-alpha level in HCV-related CLD group in comparison to control subjects. However, no significant differences were observed between compensated and decompensate CLD groups. There was also a significant elevation of serum AFP levels in HCV-related CLD groups in comparison to control subjects. However, no significant differences were observed between compensated and decompensate CLD groups. A significant inverse correlation was found between serum albumin and serum TNF-alpha in compensated CLD group, also a significant direct correlation was found between serum ALP and serum TNF-alpha in decompensate CLD group. However, no correlation was found between serum TNF-alpha and any other assayed parameters including AFP