Serum alpha-fetoprotein level is correlated with the level of inflammatory markers in the immune-clearance phase of chronic hepatitis B in Eastern China

PURPOSETo clarify the association of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with inflammatory markers interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) during the immune-clearance phase in Eastern China. METHODSThis research selected 60 CHB patients during the immune clearance phase who tested positive for AFP, including 32 cases treated by non-antiviral therapy (experimental group) and 28 cases treated by antiviral therapy (positive control group). Another 30 cases tested negative for AFP were set as a negative control group. The correlations of serum AFP with IL-6 and TNF-α in patients were analyzed. RESULTSHBV DNA clearance in patients receiving antiviral therapy, in both the positive or negative control groups, was not significantly related to other clinical data. In the experimental group, a positive correlation of HBV DNA clearance with serum AFP level (r=0.5126, P=0.0027), alanine aminotransferase (r=0.3924, P=0.0263), and total bilirubin (r=0.5126, P=0.0027) was found. The experimental and positive control groups exhibited elevated serum IL-6 and TNF-α contents versus the negative control group (P