Hepatitis C Virus—Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical Outcomes
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a global health concern, can lead to chronic liver disease. The HCV core antigen (HCVcAg), a viral protein essential for replication, offers a cost-effective alternative to HCV RNA testing, particularly in resource-limited settings. This review explores the sig...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Duong Hoang Huy Le Sitthichai Kanokudom Ha Minh Nguyen Ritthideach Yorsaeng Sittisak Honsawek Sompong Vongpunsawad Yong Poovorawan |
| author_facet | Duong Hoang Huy Le Sitthichai Kanokudom Ha Minh Nguyen Ritthideach Yorsaeng Sittisak Honsawek Sompong Vongpunsawad Yong Poovorawan |
| author_sort | Duong Hoang Huy Le |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a global health concern, can lead to chronic liver disease. The HCV core antigen (HCVcAg), a viral protein essential for replication, offers a cost-effective alternative to HCV RNA testing, particularly in resource-limited settings. This review explores the significance of HCVcAg, a key protein in the hepatitis C virus, examining its structure, function, and role in the viral life cycle. It also evaluates its clinical use in diagnosis and treatment monitoring, comparing its performance to the standard HCV RNA assay using data from PubMed and Google Scholar. HCVcAg assays show high pooled sensitivity (93.5%) and pooled specificity (99.2%) compared to HCV RNA assays, correlating closely (<i>r</i> = 0.87) with HCV RNA levels. Hence, HCVcAg testing offers a cost-effective way to diagnose active HCV infections and monitor treatment, especially in resource-limited settings, but its sensitivity can vary and standardization is needed. HCVcAg also predicts liver disease progression and assesses liver damage risk, aiding patient management. It helps to identify patients at risk for fibrosis or carcinoma, making it vital in hepatitis C care. HCVcAg testing can expand access to HCV care, simplify management, and contribute to global elimination strategies, especially in low- and middle-income countries. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-08b17a32c63f4f51bc3b0c7226fc8f21 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1999-4915 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Viruses |
| spelling | doaj-art-08b17a32c63f4f51bc3b0c7226fc8f212025-08-20T02:01:15ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-11-011612186310.3390/v16121863Hepatitis C Virus—Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical OutcomesDuong Hoang Huy Le0Sitthichai Kanokudom1Ha Minh Nguyen2Ritthideach Yorsaeng3Sittisak Honsawek4Sompong Vongpunsawad5Yong Poovorawan6Center of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, ThailandCenter of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, ThailandMedical Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Department, Fundamental Sciences and Basic Medical Sciences, Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh City 700000, VietnamCenter of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, ThailandCenter of Excellence in Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeleton, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, Bangkok 10330, ThailandCenter of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, ThailandCenter of Excellence in Clinical Virology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, ThailandThe hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, a global health concern, can lead to chronic liver disease. The HCV core antigen (HCVcAg), a viral protein essential for replication, offers a cost-effective alternative to HCV RNA testing, particularly in resource-limited settings. This review explores the significance of HCVcAg, a key protein in the hepatitis C virus, examining its structure, function, and role in the viral life cycle. It also evaluates its clinical use in diagnosis and treatment monitoring, comparing its performance to the standard HCV RNA assay using data from PubMed and Google Scholar. HCVcAg assays show high pooled sensitivity (93.5%) and pooled specificity (99.2%) compared to HCV RNA assays, correlating closely (<i>r</i> = 0.87) with HCV RNA levels. Hence, HCVcAg testing offers a cost-effective way to diagnose active HCV infections and monitor treatment, especially in resource-limited settings, but its sensitivity can vary and standardization is needed. HCVcAg also predicts liver disease progression and assesses liver damage risk, aiding patient management. It helps to identify patients at risk for fibrosis or carcinoma, making it vital in hepatitis C care. HCVcAg testing can expand access to HCV care, simplify management, and contribute to global elimination strategies, especially in low- and middle-income countries.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/12/1863hepatitis C virusHCV core antigendiagnosticsHCV treatmentmonitoringresource-limited settings |
| spellingShingle | Duong Hoang Huy Le Sitthichai Kanokudom Ha Minh Nguyen Ritthideach Yorsaeng Sittisak Honsawek Sompong Vongpunsawad Yong Poovorawan Hepatitis C Virus—Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical Outcomes Viruses hepatitis C virus HCV core antigen diagnostics HCV treatment monitoring resource-limited settings |
| title | Hepatitis C Virus—Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical Outcomes |
| title_full | Hepatitis C Virus—Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical Outcomes |
| title_fullStr | Hepatitis C Virus—Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical Outcomes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hepatitis C Virus—Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical Outcomes |
| title_short | Hepatitis C Virus—Core Antigen: Implications in Diagnostic, Treatment Monitoring and Clinical Outcomes |
| title_sort | hepatitis c virus core antigen implications in diagnostic treatment monitoring and clinical outcomes |
| topic | hepatitis C virus HCV core antigen diagnostics HCV treatment monitoring resource-limited settings |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/16/12/1863 |
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