Abstract
Background and study aim: ELISA can determine serum Interleukin (IL)-18 level. It is a sensitive, simple and rapid test, thus help to study changes of serum IL-18 levels in chronic HCV related liver diseases during different stages. The objective of this study was to study serum IL-18 levels in chronic HCV related liver diseases. Patients and methods: Sera from 60 patients with HCV related chronic liver diseases at various stages of HCV infection (chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and complications) and sera of 10 normal controls were subjected to measurements of serum IL-18 level by ELISA assay. Results: There were highly significant increase in the mean values of serum IL-18 in chronic HCV related liver cirrhosis, non complicated and complicated patients in comparison to chronic active hepatitis C patients and healthy subjects and highly significant increase in the mean values of serum IL-18 in complicated patients in comparison to non complicated patients. There was highly significant increase in the mean values of serum IL-18 in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients when compared to compensated patients. Conclusion: Serum IL-18 level shows highly positive significant correlation with severity of liver dysfunction in HCV related liver cirrhosis.
Highlights
Hepatitis C (HCV) virus infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, up to 70% of patients develop chronic infection which, in 20% of cases, will progress to cirrhosis and to hepatocellular carcinoma [1].HCV is not directly cytopathic, and the mechanisms by which it causes liver injury are not well established
It is obvious from our results that IL-18 correlates with progression of cirrhosis, where a highly significant increase in the mean values of serum IL-18 in decompensated liver cirrhosis patients was noticed when compared to compensated patients as shown in Table (3)
There was a highly significant increase in the mean values of serum IL-18 in cirrhotic patients complicated by HCC followed by cirrhotic patients complicated by hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) as shown in Table (4)
Summary
Hepatitis C (HCV) virus infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, up to 70% of patients develop chronic infection which, in 20% of cases, will progress to cirrhosis and to hepatocellular carcinoma [1].HCV is not directly cytopathic, and the mechanisms by which it causes liver injury are not well established. The Interleukin (IL)-18 gene is located on chromosome 11q22.2q22.3 and a variety of single nucleotide polymorphisms have been detected within IL-18 gene sequence. Several of these polymorphisms, especially those located in the promoter region, may be associated with differential levels of gene transcription [4]. ELISA can determine serum Interleukin (IL)-18 level. It is a sensitive, simple and rapid test, help to study changes of serum IL-18 levels in chronic HCV related liver diseases during different stages. The objective of this study was to study serum IL-18 levels in chronic HCV related liver diseases
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
