Mahmoud R. M. El-Ansary - Department of Immunology and Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt

Background and Aim: Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an endemic public health problem with long-term consequences, especially in Egypt. Egypt has one of the highest incidence rates of HCV worldwide. The current cross-sectional study aims to determine how prevalent occult HCV infection is and how it affects the individual's immune response. Materials and Methods: The studied adult patients the study had chronic HCV infection and underwent a combination of sofosbuvir ۴۰۰ mg plus daclatasvir ۶۰ mg once daily ribavirin regimen for ۱۲ weeks from March to September ۲۰۱۹. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to detect HCV-RNA in the plasma. In addition, Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) technique was used to assess cytokines levels. Results: ۳۱ participants from Misr University for Science and Technology University hospitals outpatient clinics were included in the study. The median levels of cytokines of the included patients were as follow: the median IL-۶ was ۶.۵۶ (۵.۷- ۷.۹) pg./mL, and ۱۹% of the patients had higher serum IL-۶ levels. None of the patients had abnormal serum levels ۲۸b. in addition, the median serum NF-κB was ۲۳۲ (۱۸.۷- ۶۰۹.۸۹), and ۲۹% had high serum NF-κB levels. Six (۱۹.۴%) patients had positive occult HCV infection. Patients with occult HCV infection exhibited significantly higher values of serum IL-۶ (P<۰.۰۰۱), NF-κB (P<۰.۰۰۱), serum AST (P<۰.۰۰۱), ALT (P<۰.۰۰۱), albumin (P<۰.۰۰۱), and total bilirubin (P<۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: We support the evidence about the significant association between occult HCV infection and impaired immunological response in patients who achieved sustained viral response (SVR) following direct-acting antivirals (DAA) regimens.

HCV Genotype ۴, Antiviral Drugs, infection, Cross-sectional, ژنوتیپ HCV ۴, داروهای ضد ویروسی, عفونت, مقطعی