Department of Transfusion, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, China.
J Clin Lab Anal. 2021 Jun;35(6):e23755. doi: 10.1002/jcla.23755. Epub 2021 Mar 31.
To discuss the clinical significance of HCV-cAg testing in the diagnosis, activity determination, and monitoring of therapeutic effectiveness of HCV infection and its advantages compared with HCV-RNA and anti-HCV antibodies detection.
By summarizing the published literature, the advantages and significance of HCV core antigen detection were sought.
The expression of HCV-cAg is highly consistent with that of HCV-RNA, but compared with HCV-RNA, detection of HCV-cAg is easy to operate, time saving, and low cost. HCV-cAg can be detected within 1215 days after infection, and the window period can be shortened by57 weeks. HCV-cAg is a serological indicator of virus replication, which can distinguish previous infection of HCV or current infection. HCV-cAg detection is more suitable for immunocompromised, hemodialysis, organ transplant patients. HCV-cAg also can be used to monitor antiviral efficacy and predict sustained virological response (SVR).
HCV core antigen has similar clinical sensitivity to NAT and can be used as a substitute for HCV-RNA in the diagnosis of virus infection. Combined detection of HCV-cAg and antibody serology can help doctors detect HCV infection earlier, accurately diagnose different stages of HCV infection, and evaluate the therapeutic effect of antiviral drugs, which are beneficial in the prevention and treatment of hepatitis C.
探讨丙型肝炎病毒核心抗原（HCV-cAg）检测在丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染的诊断、活动度判断和疗效监测中的临床意义，并与 HCV-RNA 和抗-HCV 抗体检测进行比较。
通过查阅已发表的文献，总结 HCV-cAg 检测的优势和意义。
HCV-cAg 的表达与 HCV-RNA 高度一致，但与 HCV-RNA 相比，HCV-cAg 检测操作简便、省时、成本低。HCV-cAg 可在感染后 1215 天内检出，可将窗口期缩短 57 周。HCV-cAg 是病毒复制的血清学指标，可区分 HCV 的既往感染或现症感染。HCV-cAg 检测更适用于免疫功能低下、血液透析、器官移植患者。HCV-cAg 还可用于监测抗病毒疗效和预测持续病毒学应答（SVR）。
HCV-cAg 的临床灵敏度与 NAT 相似，可替代 HCV-RNA 用于病毒感染的诊断。HCV-cAg 与抗体血清学联合检测有助于医生更早地发现 HCV 感染，准确诊断 HCV 感染的不同阶段，评估抗病毒药物的治疗效果，有利于丙型肝炎的防治。
