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Hepatitis C Virus-Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical Outcomes

Duong Hoang Huy Le1,2,3, Sitthichai Kanokudom1,2, Ha Minh Nguyen3,4

  • 1Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.

Viruses
|January 8, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus core antigen (HCVcAg) testing is a cost-effective method for diagnosing active infections and monitoring treatment, especially in resource-limited areas. This approach aids in managing liver disease progression and risk assessment for hepatitis C care.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Virology
  • Clinical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant global health issue leading to chronic liver disease.
  • HCV core antigen (HCVcAg) is crucial for viral replication and presents a cost-effective diagnostic alternative.
  • Current diagnostic methods like HCV RNA assays can be expensive, limiting access in resource-limited settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the significance, structure, function, and life cycle role of HCV core antigen.
  • To evaluate the clinical utility of HCVcAg assays for diagnosis and treatment monitoring.
  • To compare the performance of HCVcAg assays against standard HCV RNA assays.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies from PubMed and Google Scholar.
  • Analysis of HCV core antigen structure, function, and viral life cycle role.
  • Comparative performance evaluation of HCVcAg assays versus HCV RNA assays.

Main Results:

  • HCVcAg assays demonstrate high pooled sensitivity (93.5%) and specificity (99.2%) compared to HCV RNA assays.
  • HCVcAg levels show a strong correlation (r = 0.87) with HCV RNA levels.
  • HCVcAg testing effectively predicts liver disease progression and assesses risks for fibrosis and carcinoma.

Conclusions:

  • HCVcAg testing is a viable, cost-effective tool for diagnosing active HCV infections and monitoring treatment, particularly in resource-limited settings.
  • While effective, standardization and addressing sensitivity variations are necessary for HCVcAg assays.
  • HCVcAg testing can improve patient management, expand access to care, and support global HCV elimination efforts.

Keywords:
HCV core antigenHCV treatmentdiagnosticsglobal elimination strategieshepatitis C virusmonitoringresource-limited settings

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