Significance of Measm•ement of TNF-a mRNA Load in the FolloW-UII of Clll'onic l-let•atitis C Patients Tr•eated with Dimethyl Dimetho y Bit•hcnyl Dical'boxylate (DDB)

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major etiological factor in chronic hepatitis affecting up to 20 % of blood donors in Egypt. In the great majority of patients, hepatitis C virus infection is not self-limiting. Approximately 70 % to 85 % of patients exposed to HCV will go on to develop chronic hepatitis.Without viral eradication, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma persist as long term risks.

DDB is one of the traditional Chinese medicines, which gained popularity in Egypt. It is a synthetic analogue of Schizandrin C, which was isolated from Fructus Schizandrae Chinesis,a traditional Chinese medical plant. DDB was tried in treatment of chronic hepatitis C in China and Egypt with encouraging results.

Cytokines have been reported to be potential biological markers of disease status. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (1NF­ a) is a key cytokine released from monocytes and macrophages. It is involved in essential biological functions ,. such as immunoregulation, modulation of cell growth and differentiation. TNF-a contributes to the pathogenesis of chronic viral hepatitis and reflects histological activity of the disease.