Neopterin levels in patients with post hepatitis C chronic liver disease

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis C virus causes biochemical, immunological and histological changes in host immuno response against the virus. Neopterin [NPT] is a valuable marker of cell-mediated immunity that reflects the degree of T helper-1 [Th-I] immune activation. Evaluation of the significance of serum neopterin as a marker of cellular immune response in patients with different states of post hepatitis C chronic liver disease. Seventy patients with post hepatitis C chronic liver disease were included in the current study 40 patients with chronic hepatitis C and 30 patients with liver cirrhosis in addition to 15 healthy individuals as a control group. Patients were assessed and evaluated by laboratory instigations and liver biopsy to determine the severity of the disease. Serum neoterin level was significantly elevated in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection and cirrhosis compared to the control group with distinctly higher concentrations in the cirrhotic stage than those in he non-cirrhotic stage of disease. Neopterin may be an early and valuable biochemical marker of cellular immunity which is activated upon simulation of cells by interferon. Measurements of immune activation by NPT could potentially be helpful surrogate markers in progression of liver disease