ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to assess the peripheral blood CD5+B lymphocytes in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection, which could help in predicting early autoreactivity and targeting appropriate therapeutic intervention. The present study is a cross-sectional analytical study carried out at the hepatology and gastroenterology unit of Suez-Canal University Hospital, Ismailia Egypt. Thirty individuals were enrolled in the study and classified into two subgroup; the study group 15 HCV-RNA positive associated chronic liver disease patients and the control group 15 adult apparently healthy volunteers blood donors. Individuals included in the study were subjected to medical history, clinical examination, complete liver function tests using the fully automated Hitachi-704 biochemical analyzer, serological tests for rheumatoid factor, HBV, HCV viral markers by Elisa technique, HCV-RT-PCR was used for detection of HCV RNA. ANA was tested by the indirect immunofluorescence technique, complete blood picture by the fully automated cell-day hematology counter and flowcytometric assessment of the peripheral blood CD19+/5+B lymphocytes by using B and D FACS caliber. The evident predominance of this B cell population in chronic liver disease patients with active HCV infection may give rise to immune-mediated squeal associated with HCV infection. This expanded population of CD5+B cells may modulate the course of the liver disease complicating HCV infection