ABSTRACT
Both vitamin E and A were reported to have an immuno-modulatory effect on some viral infections. vitamin E supplementation showed this effect in the recovery from viral hepatitis B [HBV] and C [HCV] infections, while vitamin A delayed and decreased the degree of hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis with chronic viral infections. Beta-thalassemic children are at risk for HCV infection from transfusion therapy and co-infection with Schistosoma mansoni [s. mansoni], which is common in Egypt, may augment hepatic injury in them. Accordingly, we conducted this work on 52 beta-thalassemic patients and 18 healthy controls to evaluate serum vitamin E and A [by HPLC method] interrelations with HCV and potential S mansoni co-infection. Vitamin E was markedly decreased in patients compared to controls. The only significant [p<0.01] variable in HCV-infected [by 3[rd] generation ELISA test] patients was elevated alanine aminotransferase. None of the variables was significantly associated with HCV-viremia [by RT-RCR test]. IgG and IgM against S. mansoni egg soluble antigens were done on 44 patients [by home-made ELISA test] and co-infection with HCV was present in 38.6% of them. This co-infection group had a decreased serum vitamin E [p<0.05] and a strong inverse correlation [p<0.01] with vitamin A, which were not present in other groups of patients. The findings of the present study support the suggestion of vitamin E supplementation to beta-thalassemic patients and future studies should focus on co-infected HCV/ S. mansoni group of patients for better understanding of molecular mechanism [s] of vitamin E effects on immune system cells