HCV infection

An estimated 3% of the world’s population — more than 170 million people — are infected by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). About 70% of infections become chronic: a condition that is associated with developing end stage liver disease such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In patients with chronic HCV infection M30 values largely correlate with conventional surrogate markers such as aminotransferase levels. However, patients with normal ALT and progressed HCV-related liver fibrosis were found to also have elevated caspase-cleaved keratin 18 products in their serum, suggesting that M30 measurements represent an even more sensitive marker suitable for the detection of early liver injury. Serological detection of caspase activity also mirrored the degree of liver steatosis in those patients. In addition, M30 is a reliable serum marker to detect liver injury in patients with chronic HBV infection.

Even with current antiviral treatment options about 50% of HCV patients do not respond to treatment, which is costly and associated with significant side effects. There is a strong need for early detection of patients that are not responding to antiviral therapy. In a recent study of 315 patients it could be demonstrated that M30 serum levels decreased in patients responding to antiviral therapy, but not in non-responding patients.