Study of interferon-gamma in Egyptian patients with chronic active hepatitis [C] versus chronic active hepatitis [B]

ABSTRACT

Pro-inflammatory cytokines include many factors as interferon Gamma [INF-Y]. In this study, we estimate the serum levels of INF-Y in sixty cases and twenty controls by ELISA technnique. They were classified as follows - [30] Cases with chronic active hepatitis post C [group I], [30] cases with chronic active hepatitis post B [group II] and [20] normal healthy subjects as control group [group III]. The obtained results revealed that the mean INF-Y levels were markedly elevated [P.<0.001] in diseased groups [GI and GII] compared to control group [GIII]. Moreover, the mean serum levels of INF-Y were increased in CAH post C compared to CAH post B. we conclude that viral specific activated T-cell response oceues in CAH type C or type B with subsequent release and elevation of INF-Y, Also, this increase of INF-Y is related to viral activity and vigorous progressive liver injury may follow CAH-post virus C more than CAH post virus B