Value of Assessment of Serum Resistin Levels in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Abstract

SUMMARY T his study was conducted in order to observe the serum resistin level in patients with a chronic HCV infection and to evaluate the effect of resistin on the clinical picture of the disease. To fulfill the aim of this study, 75 patients with a chronic HCV infection were studied as well as a control group of 20 individuals. The study included three groups: - Group 1: Consisting of 40 patients with chronic HCV without interferon therapy - Group 2: Consisting of 35 cases of chronic HCV infection but on 12 weeks interferon therapy - Group 3: Consisting of 20 norrmal subject with no clinical or biochemical evidence of any liver disease. The results of the study showed that patients in-group 1 (denovo) had the highest serum resistin level of (11.34 ± 2.18 ng/ml). group 2 (chronic HCV with therapy) had a mean of (5.84 ± 1.15 ng/ml) while group 3 (control) had the lowest resistin level (3.22 ± 0.57ng/ml) The results showed that group 1 had a significantly higher level than group 2 and group 3.group 1 .In other words, serum resistin was elevated in both groups of chronic HCV as compared to the controls and was even higher in the denovo group compared to patients receiving treatment. A study of the possible correlation between the clinical picture and the level of serum resistin showed correlation between resistin level and the degree of hepatic inflammation in liver biopsy. Positive correlation was found in patient receiving and not receiving interferon therapy.