Ip-10 as a Predictor of Treatment Response in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients.

Abstract

Background & Aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a globally prevalent pathogen and a leading cause of death and morbidity. IFN-gamma inducible protein 10 kDa (IP-10, or CXCL10), predict a more pronounced first phase decline of HCV RNA during anti-viral therapy. We assessed pretreatment serum IP-10 as a predictor of SVR in treated chronic HCV. Subjects and methods: Seventy adult chronic HCV patients were included in the prospective controlled study and 10 healthy subjects as a control group. All patients were treated with combined pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy: pegylated IFN-α2b, 1.5 µg/kg/week or pegylated IFN-α2a, 180 µg/week SC plus ribavirin (15mg/kg/day orally) for 48 weeks and were followed up for 6 months later. Results: There was statistically significant difference between the Non-SVR group and SVR group as regards IP10 level (395 ±167.9 vs. 159.9 ±55.2) pg/ml; AFP level (7.2 ±11.4 vs. 3.8 ±1.8) ng/ml and Liver Stiffness measurement by transient elastography (10.9 ±6.3 vs. 7.4 ±2.5) kpa, respectively. On multivariate regression analysis for predictors of post-treatment SVR: IP10 was the only independent predictor of achieving SVR (Odds=0.97; C.I 95%= 0.95-0.99; P=0.002). At cutoff point for IP10 more than 216.6 pg/ml has a sensitivity of 90%, specificity 87.5%, PPV 84.4% and NPV 92.1% at P = 0.001; C.I 95% = 0.900-1.000 to define patients with SVR.

<p>The Circulating Micro-RNAs (−122, −34a and −99a) as Predictive Biomarkers for Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Diseases</p>

“…Mi-RNAs, short, non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression, have been associated with histological features of NAFLD and are readily detected in the circulation. [31][32][33][34][35] The current study showed a significant increase in the level of mi-RNA-122 in NAFLD patients compared to controls, and its level is associated with disease severity from simple steatosis to steatohepatitis. This finding is in agreement with Jampoka et al, 36 who found that serum mi-RNA-122 levels in NAFLD patients were significantly higher than those found in the control group.…”