Evaluation of il-8 level in hepatitis c infected patients: relation to combined peg-interferon/ribavirin treatment response

ABSTRACT

Background: Interferon [IFN] exhibits a potent antiviral activity in vitro and plays a major role in the, early defense against viruses. Like IFN, IL-8 is induced by viruses and appears in circulation during viral infections. It was found that IL-8 can inhibit IFN-a activity in 'a dose-dependent manner. It has been demonstrated that serum levels of IL-8 are elevated in patients with chronic HCV infection. The study aimed at assessment of serum levels of IL-8 in chronic HCV infected patients and comparing IL-8 levels after treatment between responder and non responder patients