Chronic hepatitis C: quantitative EPR analysis of nitrogen oxide and copper in patients' blood.

Measurements of nitrogen oxide and copper in the blood of 57 patients with chronic viral hepatitis C was carried out before antiviral therapy by electron paramagnetic resonance on a Radiopan EPR spectrometer. The results indicate elevated levels of nitrogen oxide and copper in the blood of these patients in comparison with normal subjects. Comparison of these findings with the results of a previous analysis of redox status of patients with chronic viral hepatitis C indicate that this disease is characterized by a significant pro-oxidant shift in the realization of redox processes and disorders in the metal ligand homeostasis (at least as regards copper).