Detection of Cireulating intercellular Adhesion Molecules 1 ( ICAM-1) In Chronic liver Disease due to hepatitis C Virus Infection

Abstract

In this study (40) patients with clinical im"d laboratory evidence of chronic HCV infection were inchided. They were selected frmn a group of cases referred to Ain Shams University Hospital. History was obtained from each subject clinical and ultrasonographic examinations were carried out. Patients were assessed by laboratory investigations which included liver function tests, serological analysis for hepatitis B and C viruses using 3rd generation EIA and nested RT-PCR. Proctosigmodoscopy with examination of rectal biopsies for schistosoma ova. Liver biopsy was done to only (31) from the 40 patients, as it was hazardous in the remaining 9 patients due to tense ascites and/or high prothrombin time. They were 26 (65%) males and 14 (35%) females. Their ages ranged from 37 to 62 years. History of schistosomiasis was reported in 22 (55%) of the patients. Another 20 age and sex matched individuals, served as controls they were clinically serological and sonographically free. Clinical assessment of patients about jaundice in (18) (45%) Abdominal examination revealed enlarged liver in (18) (45%) of the patients and enlarged spleen in (24) (60%). HBs Ag and anti HBc antibodies were not detected, while anti HCV antibodies and HCV - RNA were detected in all patients.