Serum some cytokine’s level predicted advanced fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C patients

Abstract

Background: The human body’s response to viral infections, immune responses, cellular inflammation, anti-cancer responses, and the host immune system’s response are mediated by cytokines secreted by variety of immune cells and liver epithelial cells. Various cytokine dynamics has been associated with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Cytokines are small proteins that are crucial in controlling the growth and activity of other immune system cells and blood cells. We hypothesized that cytokines have an important role in fibrosis development in HCV infection. Material and methods: Data of 92 patients were analyzed retrospectively. We examined cytokines IL4 in this study. Various statistical analyses were used as appropriate. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS 20.0. Results: Of the 92 HCV-infected patients, 49 (53.3%) were male, 23 (25%) patients had advanced (fibrosis grades 3-4) fibrosis. Age (mean±SD of 56.3±7.4 vs 50.4±9.7 years, p=0.009), GOT level (mean±SD of 120.8±63.2 vs 92.4±55.5 U/L, p=0.048), and ferritin level (mean±SD of 641.0±548.0 vs 384.1±363.6 ng/mL, p=0.013) were significantly higher in the advanced fibrosis group than in the mild fibrosis group, while platelet level mean±SD of 153.2±48.5 vs 184.5±61.6 × 109/L, p=0.030) was lower in the advanced fibrosis group. Elevation of baseline IL-4 level (>490 pg/mL) was associated with liver fibrosis grade by χ2 test (odds ratio [OR]=2.99; 95%, CI=1.02-8.78; p=0.042) and multivariate logistic regression (OR=4.26; 95% CI=1.13-16.02; p=0.032). Conclusion: This study provides evidence that increased IL-4 expression predicted advanced liver fibrosis in treatment of naïve HCV-infected patients.