Elevated α-Fetoprotein in the Absence of Carcinoma Caused by Relapse of Hepatitis C Viral Infection after Liver Transplantation

Tomomi Kogiso; Takaomi Sagawa; Yoshihito Kotera; Hiroto Egawa; Masakazu Yamamoto; Katsutoshi Tokushige

doi:10.14309/crj.2018.103

Elevated α-Fetoprotein in the Absence of Carcinoma Caused by Relapse of Hepatitis C Viral Infection after Liver Transplantation

ACG Case Rep J. 2018 Dec 19:5:e103. doi: 10.14309/crj.2018.103. eCollection 2018.

Authors

Tomomi Kogiso¹, Takaomi Sagawa¹, Yoshihito Kotera², Hiroto Egawa², Masakazu Yamamoto², Katsutoshi Tokushige¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
² Department of Surgery, Institute of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.

Abstract

We report a rare case of marked elevation of α-fetoprotein in the absence of hepatocellular carcinoma caused by a relapse of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A 58-year-old man underwent liver transplantation to treat hepatocellular carcinoma caused by HCV-related liver cirrhosis. The HCV was of genotype 2a, and the ribonucleic acid titer was >8.0 log IU/mL. Direct-acting antiviral drugs were prescribed for 12 weeks; however, the HCV infection relapsed after treatment had ended, and α-fetoprotein levels increased to 8,981 ng/mL. Imaging did not reveal any malignancies. The patient initiated interferon therapy, at which time AFP levels decreased, and the HCV was successfully cleared.

Publication types

Case Reports