Effect of interleukin-6 and insulin resistance on early virological response of Egyptian chronic hepatitis C patients to combined pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy

Abstract

Background and aimResponse to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific therapy is variable but might be influenced by host factors. We studied whether interleukin-6 (IL-6) level, IL-6-174G4C gene polymorphism, and insulin resistance affect the response to antiviral treatment in HCV-infected patients. Patients and methods Fifty-five chronic hepatitis C patients and 13 healthy individuals as controls were included in this study. Liver function tests, HCV RNA titer, ultrasonography, and histopathological examination of liver tissues were performed for all patients. Pretreatment plasma IL-6 levels and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance were estimated. The IL-6-174G4C polymorphism was detected by the PCR/RFLP method. After 12 weeks of combined pegylated interferon-a and ribavirin therapy, patients were classified into responders or nonresponders according to whether they achieved an early virological response. ResultsThe responders had significantly high IL-6 levels (P = 0.01), low mean stage of fibrosis (P = 0.03), and low viral load (P = 0.04) compared with nonresponders. Although not significant, patients with the IL-6-174 CC genotype reported a higher response rate (81%) compared with those with the CG genotype (50%) and GG genotype (62%). IL-6 level at a cutoff point of 2.15 pg/ml had 81.1% sensitivity and 72.7% specificity and showed significant relation with early virological response (P = 0.04). ConclusionEstimation of basal IL-6 level could be used as a predictor of response to pegylated interferon-a and ribavirin therapy in CHC patients.

Prediction of sofosbuvir response using interleukin-6 serum level and single nucleotide polymorphism of interferon lambda- 4

“…The serum level of interleukin-6 before treatment has been found significantly higher in HCV patients than in healthy control as shown in Table 3. This finding was in agreement with the result of El Salam, [32] and ElSerafi group [33]. These came with the result of study which done by Feldman et.al [34] who proved that HCV infection stimulate toll like receptor -2 by HCV core protein which resulted in induction of interleukin-6 and other inflammatory cytokines secretion.…”

Assessing the levels interleukin-6, anti-cardiolipin antibodies, and selenium among hepatitis patients

“…concentrations were pointedly higher in the patients than the control group, which a line with El-Serafiet al, outcomes [46] and Afzal et al [47] .…”

Serum Interleukin-6 Concentration Associated with Response to Therapy for Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

“…This findings were in agreement with the results of El serafi et al [15] , who reported that CHC patients who achieved early virological response (EVR) had significantly higher IL-6 levels compared with those who did not, and IL-6 level greater than 2.15 pg/mL was significantly associated with EVR and could be considered as an independent predictor of EVR.…”

“…In total, SVR12 in naïve patients with mild fibrosis score (F1 and F2) In this study, Baseline IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients than control group, this finding is in agreement with the result of El serafi et al [15] and Afzal et al [16] who reported that IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients than control group.…”

“…El serafi et al [15] , reported that IL-6 level greater than 2.15 pg/ml was significantly associated with response and could be considered as an independent predictor of response.…”