New approach of treatment of Hepatitis C virus in Egyptian patient

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is one of the most important health problems in Egypt. The innate immune system represents the initial line of host defense mechanism against invading pathogen. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy, and tolerability of two therapeutic modalities (Sofosbuvir+ Ribavirin) and (Sofosbuvir + Ribavirin + Peg-interferon), in treating Egyptian patients infected with HCV. In addition, we determined serum IL-12p70 and TLR 7 gene expression in patients infected with HCV with and without treatment, compared to the healthy volunteers. No significant changes in serum creatinine and fasting blood glucose concentrations were reported at the end of the treatment with dual and triple therapy and after 3 months of follow up. Patients infected with HCV showed a non-significant change in the relative quantitation of TLR7 gene expression, and a significant elevation in serum IL-12p70 concentration (p<0.0001), compared to the healthy volunteers group (I). In dual and triple therapy groups (III and IV), there was a significant elevation in the relative quantitation of TLR gene expression (250.53 and 506.32%, respectively, p<0.0001), compared with a positive control group (II), but these elevations returned to the normal level after 3-months of follow up period. On the other hand, the concentration of serum IL-12p70 was significantly reduced in all treatment groups, compared to both healthy volunteers and positive control groups, except group III (SOF+RBV) showed a non-significant change compared to healthy volunteers.