Utility of MicroRNAs for Diagnosing Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Hepatitis C Patients

The Merits of Implementing microRNAs for Diagnosing Hepatocellular Carcinoma Among Hepatitis C Patients

This study evaluates a target population of patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, including those with complications like liver cirrhosis (LC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), to investigate the diagnostic utility of a specific panel of microRNAs (miRNAs). The intervention involves quantifying the plasma expression (PE) levels of MiR-21, 1246, 205, 29a-3p, and 497 via PCR and comparing them to healthy controls to determine their efficacy as biomarkers. The primary outcome is to assess the sensitivity, specificity, and overall accuracy of these miRNAs in differentiating HCC from cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic HCV cases, aiming to establish more reliable screening tools than current standard biomarkers like alpha-fetoprotein (AFP).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newly diagnosed HCV infection.
• Chronic uncomplicated HCV infection.
• HCV complicated with liver cirrhosis.
• HCV complicated with HCC on top of cirrhosis.
• Willingness to participate and sign written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Advanced stage of hepatic cirrhosis with portal hypertension or hepatorenal failure.
• Hepatic malignancies other than HCC.
• Bilharzial pre-portal fibrosis.
• Alcoholic fatty liver disease
• hepatosteatosis.