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IL-21 as a Predictor of Sustained Virologic Response in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

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Abstract

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant public health problem. The crucial role of interleukin (IL)-21 in HCV has been established. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association of serum IL-21 levels with the virological response to interferon (IFN)-based therapy in a group of Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Clinical data were collected from 58 HCV-positive Egyptian patients treated with IFN/ribavirin therapy and 10 non-HCV-infected healthy subjects. Liver and renal function tests, complete blood count, viral markers, and pretreatment IL-21 levels were determined in all patients and healthy controls. Patients who achieved sustained virologic response (SVR) had higher pretreatment median serum IL-21 levels than those who did not. Thus, this study concluded that higher pretreatment serum IL-21 may be useful in predicting SVR in CHC patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biochemistry Department, Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Division, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

    Halla Mohamed Ragab, Nabila Abd El Maksoud & Mohab H. Halim

  2. Internal Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Mona A. Amin & Shorouk M. Moussa

  3. Hepatology Department, National Hepatology & Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Cairo, Egypt

    Nour A. Abdulla

  4. Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

    Abdelkarim Kamel

Authors
  1. Halla Mohamed Ragab
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  2. Nabila Abd El Maksoud
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  3. Mona A. Amin
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  4. Mohab H. Halim
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  5. Nour A. Abdulla
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  6. Abdelkarim Kamel
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  7. Shorouk M. Moussa
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Correspondence to Halla Mohamed Ragab.

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Ragab, H.M., El Maksoud, N.A., Amin, M.A. et al. IL-21 as a Predictor of Sustained Virologic Response in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 185, 484–493 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2669-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-017-2669-z

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