SERUM FERRITIN VERSUS INTERLEUKIN-10 (IL-10) AS PREDICTORS OF RAPID VIROLOGICAL RESPONSE (RVR) IN PATIENTS RECEIVING ANTI- HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV) TREATMENT

Abstract

HCV is an important public health issue including both adults and children. More than 170 million people are infected with HCV worldwide. Egypt has the highest prevalence of adult HCV infection in the world (15–25%). The main HCV genotype is type 4 (90%). Because of the possibility of serious late clinical consequences such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, patients with CHC should be administered antiviral treatment. Currently, the standard treatment for adults with HCV infection is a combination therapy with PEG-IFN α and RBV. Host, viral and genetic factors play a critical role in response to IFN therapy. The response rates to standard interferon and ribavirin treatment were lower than previously believed. Assessment of pre-treatment predictors of response may help to optimize outcomes and decrease an ever expanding pool of non-responders and relapsers. This study aims to evaluate the effect of high serum ferritin versus IL-10 in HCV infected patients who received SOC therapy and their relation to their rapid virologic response to treatment. It was found that the elevated serum ferritin and IL-10 in HCV patients, both decreases the response to treatment specially the rapid virologic response, but serum ferritin elevation has more effect.