Evaluation of Serum Level of IL-6 in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infected Egyptian Patients

Fatma M. El-senosy^1, , Mona M. Morsy¹, Hanan M. El-Tokhy¹, Iman ElBagour² and Sara M. Elhadad¹

¹Departments of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine (Girls) Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

²Clinical and chemical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine (Girls) Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

Cite this paper:
Fatma M. El-senosy, Mona M. Morsy, Hanan M. El-Tokhy, Iman ElBagour and Sara M. Elhadad. Evaluation of Serum Level of IL-6 in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infected Egyptian Patients. American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine. 2018; 6(1):5-12. doi: 10.12691/ajmsm-6-1-2

Abstract

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide public health problem. The highest prevalence is in Egypt and constitute about 10-20% of the general population. IL-6 is a plieotropic cytokine that plays a role in the acute phase response; it is released from various cells, such as, Leukocytes, fibroblasts, macrophages and endothelia cells. IL-6 is produced by kupffer cells in the liver and leads to production of the acute phase proteins. Aims: This study was conducted to evaluate serum level of IL-6 as a marker of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C virus infected Egyptian patients and to assess its correlation with the stages of liver fibrosis. Methods: A case control study was conducted on 40 Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection (group1). Studied patients were divided according to the stage of fibrosis assessed by fibroscan into two sub-groups: Group Ia: 22 Patients with early fibrosis (F0, F1, F2) and Group Ib: 18 Patients with late fibrosis (F3, F4) compared to age matched 40 healthy controls (group 11). Routine laboratory investigations, Hepatitis markers including (HBsAg), HCV antibody and HCV RNA by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and, serum Interleukin-6 and Abdominal ultrasonography were done for all studied groups and assessment of liver fibrosis by APRI score & FIB-4for patients and control but Fibro scan for patients only. Results: There were highly significant Elevation of serum level of IL-6 in group1 when compared to the control and This elevation was more significant in (group Ib) when compared to (group Ia) and There was highly significant positive correlation between serum IL-6 and each of serum ALT, AST and Fibro scan in group 1. Conclusion: The study concluded that a highly significant elevation of serum level of IL-6 in chronic HCV Egyptian patients and there was a highly significant positive correlation between IL-6 and stages of liver fibrosis assessed by fibroscan.

Keywords:
HCV IL-6 APRI score FIB-4

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