Lack of Diagnostic Value of Serum Anti-HCV in the Diagnosis of HCV Infection in Nigerian Population

Abstract

Purpose: Antibody to hepatitis C virus constitutes one of the diagnostic panels for HCV-related liver diseases worldwide. There is a need to be sure of the relevance of this test in our population. This study sought to determine the diagnostic utility of anti-HCV in liver diseases among Nigerians. Methods: Sera of 126 adult patients with liver diseases were analyzed for anti-nuclear, hepatitis B surface antigen, antibody to hepatitis C virus by ELISA technique. Hepatitis B virus DNA and Hepatitis C virus RNA extraction, amplification and quantification were carried out using real time PCR. Eighty-two apparently normal matched subjects served as control. Appropriate statistical instruments were used for analyses of data. Significant statistical difference was specified at p< 0.05. Results: HBsAg was positive in 103 (81.7%) and 49(51.8%), p<0.05, among cases and controls respectively. The HBV-DNA was higher among cases 58 (46%) than controls 1 (1.2%), X2=51.53, p=0.00, (odds ratio 27.3). Viral load ranged between 0.0 -22.2 million copies/ul. Anti-HCV was positive in 45 (32.7%) and 8 (9.76%) among cases and controls respectively, p=0.00 while HCV-RNA were negative in all subjects. Conclusion: Hepatitis B markers had the strongest association with liver disease. HBsAg and anti-HCV were all significantly higher among subjects with liver diseases compared to the control group. The significance of anti-HCV among cases with liver disease and in normal controls has to be determined among Nigerians.