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Vol.4 No.4 – 2 : Estimation of Serum Interlukin-18 and Hs-CRP in Chronic Hepatitis C Infected Patients at Assuit Governorate, Egypt

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By : A.M. El-Adly 1*, A.A. Shalaby2, M. H. Hussein1, N.F. Abo Dahab 1, U.M. Abdul-Raouf 1

1 Botany & Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, 71524 Assiut, Egypt

2Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, 71524 Assiut, Egypt

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a global health problem. Egypt has the highest prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the world. Interlukin-18 (IL-18) as a critical multipotent inducer of innate and acquired immune responses. This study aimed to estimate IL-18 and hs-CRP levels in patients at different stages of chronic HCV infection and to evaluate IL-18 as non-invasive marker of the severity of liver damage in chronic hepatitis C patients, and to investigate the characteristics of hs-CRP and its correlation to chronic HCV infection. This study included 50 chronic HCV patients and 20 healthy. They were subjected to history taking, liver function tests, real-time PCR test and other laboratory tests. Serum IL-18 levels were assayed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Our study was conducted on 70 subjects with their ages ranging between 9-70 years. 50 HCV chronically infected patients, they were 42 (84.0%) males and 8 (16.0%) female. Twenty apparent healthy individuals without HCV infection used as control, they were 18 (90%) males and 2 (10%) females. Serum IL-18 and Hs-CRP levels were higher in chronic HCV patients compared to healthy. Responders to interferon treatment had higher interleukin-18 levels than non-responders. However, Serum Hs-CRP were higher in non-responders than Responders to interferon treatment. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma had higher interleukin-18 and Hs-CRP levels than those without heaptocellular carcinoma. Serum IL-18 could be a significant predictor for severity of HCV infection and monitoring of therapy response in chronic HCV patients with other tests.

Estimation of Serum Interlukin-18 and Hs-CRP in Chronic Hepatitis C Infected Patients at Assuit Governorate, Egypt-converted

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Vol.2 No.11 -1 : Screening for viral infection and anemia among pregnant women with bad pregnancy outcome in Egyptian population.

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By : Amer, A., Mona, K. Farag, Khaled, R. Gaber1, AlKhazindar, M and ElSayed, T

Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health concern worldwide and in Egypt. Viral hepatitis during pregnancy is closely related to high risks of maternal complications Human Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is considered the most common cause of congenital malformation that results from viral intrauterine infection in developed countries. Anemia is one of the common complications that is associated with increased risk of bad pregnancy outcome including low birth weight and preterm birth. The aim of this study was to screen for HCV, CMV and anemia among pregnant women in Egyptian population. This prospective study was conducted at the Prenatal Diagnosis clinic in the National Research Centre between April 2013 and August 2015 and a total of 200 pregnant women during their second trimester of pregnancy were enrolled and divided into case group (150/200) with current or history of bad pregnancy outcome and control group (50/200) with no previous history of bad pregnancy outcome. All blood samples were tested for complete blood picture and liver enzyme tests and were screened by ELISA for Anti-HCV and CMV-IgG and IgM. After all investigations including medical and family history for all pregnant women included in the study, all data was statistically analyzed using spss version 19. Anemia was diagnosed in pregnant women with hemoglobin level below 11 g/dl and it was detected in 24 % (48/200) of the total pregnant females included in the study. Five cases tested positive for Anti-HCV antibody among all cases enrolled in the study and was found in the cases group 3.33% (5/150) while all pregnant women in the control group showed negative results. Screening for CMV showed 100 % CMV-IgG while we found 0 % CMV-IgM. Screening for anemia and serological screening for CMV and HCV antibodies should be routine tests especially among pregnant women.

1-Screening-for-viral-infection-and-anemia-among-pregnant-women-with-bad-pregnancy-outcome-in-Egyptian-population
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