Correlation between hepatitis B virus surface antigen level and alpha-fetoprotein in patients free of hepatocellular carcinoma or severe hepatitis

Alfa-fetoprotein (AFP) is used as a marker of early hepatocarcinogenesis. However, the impact of hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) on this relationship in patients with HBV infection is not clear. The present study evaluated the relation between HBsAg and AFP levels at the initial visit in 1,610 untreated HBV patients, free of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or severe hepatitis. The cumulative rate of HCC was significantly lower in patients with a low AFP level (<= 10 mu g/L; below the upper limit of normal) than in those with a high AFP level (>= 11 mu g/L) at the initial visit. In patients with HBsAg levels more than 500 IU/ml, HBsAg levels correlated significantly and negatively with AFP levels, and significantly with platelet count. Multivariate analysis of data of patients with HBsAg more than 500 IU/ml identified HBsAg (<7,000 IU/ml), albumin (<3.9 g/dl), platelet count (<20.0 x 10(4)/mm(3)), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (>= 50 IU/L), aspartate aminotransferase (>= 34 IU/L), HBeAg (positive), and HBV core-related antigen (>= 3.0 log U/ml) as determinants of a high AFP. Especially, in patients with HBsAg more than 500 IU/ml and low transaminase levels (below the upper limit of normal), HBsAg was identified as significant determinant of a high AFP. On the other hand, in patients with HBsAg less than 500 IU/ml, multivariate analysis identified albumin, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and HBV core-related antigen as determinants of a high AFP. The results indicated that HBsAg level seems to affect, at least in part, the AFP levels, and that it can be used as a surrogate marker of early hepatocarcinogenesis. J. Med. Virol. 86:131-138, 2014. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.