Evaluation of Triiodothyronine (T3) and Lipid Peroxidation in Hepatitis C Patients Receiving Interferon and Ribavirin

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis is an inflammatory disorder of the liver and liver is considered as vital organ of the body. Hepatitis C virus affects 3% of the world population in which 170 million people are affected chronically and 3 to 4 million affected per year. Interferon-alpha is a cytokine, which is produced by white blood cells and T lymphocytes. Destructive thyroiditis in patients receiving interferon-α therapy is analyzed based on negative TSH receptor antibodies (TRAbs) and low thyroid radioactive iodine uptake. Methodology: Fifty-Five patients of Hepatitis C and Twenty-five age and sex-matched clinically apparently healthy individuals were eligible for inclusion in the study at Jinnah Hospital Lahore. 5.0 ml blood samples were taken and subjected to centrifuge at 3000-4000 rpm for 10-15 minutes for the separation of serum. The estimation of AST, ALT and ALP, FT3, Total Protein (TP), Total bilirubin (TB) and MDA were estimated. Results: FT3 level in HCV patients was elevated remarkably (16.63±7.14) as compared to control (4.25±0.72) and statistically significant (p-value <0.05). MDA level was also increased in HCV patients (8.58±1.19) as compared to healthy persons (1.47±0.54) and statistically significant (p-value <0.05). The level of total protein (TP) in HCV patients was decreased (4.20±0.61) as compared to healthy individuals (6.23±0.51) and also statistically significant (p-value <0.05). Conclusion: Present study concluded that HCV patients treated with interferon therapy have remarkably elevated lipid peroxidation rate which caused high level of MDA and FT3 level also elevated and play significant role in HCV patients which is causative agent for the progression of the disease.