Author/Authors :
ZAYED, NAGLAA A. Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Tropical Medicine, Egypt , HUNTER, SHEREEN S. Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Tropical Medicine, Egypt , SHAHEEN, NOHA H. Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Clinical Pathology, Egypt , AL-NAQEEB, AHMAD Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Tropical Medicine, Egypt , MABROUK, MAHASEN A. Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Department of Tropical Medicine, Egypt
Abstract :
Introduction: Hepatitis C virus causes biochemical, immunological and histological changes in host immune response against the virus. Neopterin (NPT) is a valuable marker of cell-mediated immunity that reflects the degree of T helper- 1 (Th-1) immune activation. Aim: Evaluation of the significance of serum neopterin as a marker of cellular immune response in patients with different stages of post hepatitis C chronic liver disease. Patients and Methods: Seventy patients with post hepatitis C chronic liver disease were included in the current study: 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 30 patients with liver cirrhosis in addition to 15 healthy individuals as a control group. Patients were assessed and evaluated by laboratory investigations and liver biopsy to determine the. severity of the disease. Results: Serum neopterin level was significantly elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and cirrhosis compared to the control group with distinctly higher concentrations in the cirrhotic stage than those in the non-cirrhotic stage of disease. Conclusion: Neopterin may be an early and valuable biochemical marker of cellular immunity which is activated upon stimulation of cells by interferon. Measurements of immune activation by NPT could potentially be helpful surrogate markers in progression of liver disease.
