ESTIMATION OF SERUM INTERLEUKIN-18 IN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C VIRUS-INFECTED PATIENTS

Eman Ahmed Eissa, Hamed Mohamed Abd El Barry, Shuzan Ali Mohammed*, Amal Salah Abd El Hamid Ewies and Ibrahim El Tantawy El Sayed*

ABSTRACT

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major global health problem and is one of the main causes of chronic liver disease One of the most countries affected by HCV is Egypt. IL-18 plays a crucial role in the inflammatory cascade. The aim was to evaluate Il-18 as a marker for the severity development of hepatic cirrhosis in chronic hepatic C patients. Methods: This prospective a case-control study which conducted on 100 patients with post-hepatitis C liver. In addition to 50 healthy subjects served as a control group. IL-18 were measured for all participants Results: Serum liver enzymes (ALT and AST) differ significantly (P < 0.01) among different groups. The higher ALT and AST level observed in cirrhotic group followed by non-cirrhotic group and the lower ALT and AST level observed in control group.IL-18 protein level differ significantly (P < 0.01) among different groups. The higher IL-18 observed in cirrhotic group followed by Non-cirrhotic group and the lower IL-18 observed in the control group. There were significant positive correlations between serum levels of IL-18 and (AFP, INR, ALT, AST, virus number, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin). Conclusion: IL-18 levels were elevated in HCV patients than controls. Serum IL-18 is significantly increase in HCV patients and is correlated with liver cirrhosis. So, IL-18 can be used as non-invasive pro inflammatory marker for detection of the chronicity and severity in chronic hepatitis c patients.

Keywords: Il-18- hepatic cirrhosis- chronic hepatic C patients.