ABSTRACT
In this study, a correlation between some serum markers [alanine aminotransferase/ aspartate aminotransferase [AST/ALT] ratio, level of matrix metalloproteinase 9 [MMP9], level of viremia and HCV serotype] and the severity of liver fibrosis in HCV-infected patients was detected. The study included 72 human cases referred to the Early Cancer Detection Unit for liver biopsy assessment. The severity of liver fibrosis was staged, using the METAVIR scoring system, into four stages. The level of viremia did not differ significantly in the different stages of liver fibrosis. Also, the type of HCV had no effect on the severity of liver fibrosis. However, transaminases ratio differed significantly in the different fibrosis stages. This serum test showed relative high sensitivity and specificity [92.6% and 94.38, respectively] in diagnosing severe fibrosis and cirrhosis. However, the level of MMB was inversely correlated with the fibrosis stages and was found to have 88.9% sensitivity and 88.6% specificity when diagnosing severe fibrosis and cirrhosis. Although, the sensitivity of these serum markers did not reach 100%, yet their use can reduce the number of liver biopsies when diagnosing and treating HCV-infected patients