dinoprost and Hepatitis-C--Chronic

Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases. The plasma level of 8-isoprostane, a product of lipid peroxidation, is a marker of oxidative stress in vivo. The aim of the present study was to clarify whether the degree of lipid peroxidation, as measured by the plasma level of 8-isoprostane, influences the progression of chronic liver diseases and hepatocarcinogenesis.. Plasma 8-isoprostane levels were investigated in 14 patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), 75 with chronic hepatitis C (CH-C), 14 with cured CH-C, 14 with HCV-positive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC-C) and 38 healthy volunteers. 8-Isoprostane was measured by enzyme immunoassay after affinity column purification.. Plasma 8-isoprostane was significantly elevated in NAFLD (11.9 [3.8-56.8] pg/mL), CH-C (10.1 [4.2-134.5] pg/mL) as compared to controls (6.3 [3.6-11.1] pg/mL). Plasma 8-isoprostane values were positively correlated with body mass index in NAFLD (P < 0.05) and with total cholesterol in cured CH-C (P < 0.01). 8-Isoprostane levels were not significantly related to sex, age, biochemical data or iron metabolism markers in all liver diseases. In addition, after the administration of peg-interferon, the values of 8-isoprostane improved in almost all patients, reaching values of healthy subjects.. 8-Isoprostane values are elevated in patients with NAFLD and CH-C as compared to healthy controls. Oxidative stress caused by increased lipid peroxidation is involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD and CH-C.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antiviral Agents; Biomarkers; Dinoprost; Disease Progression; Drug Carriers; Fatty Liver; Female; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Interferon alpha-2; Interferon-alpha; Lipid Peroxidation; Male; Middle Aged; Polyethylene Glycols; Prognosis; Recombinant Proteins

Chronic hepatitis C infection is a major world-wide problem, frequently progressing to cirrhosis, liver failure or hepatoma. The pathological mechanisms of disease progression are unclear but oxidant stress may play a role.. Markers of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, hepatic fibrogenesis and liver function were measured in blood or urine from 42 chronic hepatitis C patients. Fibrosis was graded histologically in a subgroup of 33 patients.. The lipid peroxidation marker 8-isoprostane and the ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione were significantly elevated (P<0.001, P=0.006). The antioxidants glutathione, selenium and vitamins A, C and E were significantly decreased (all P<0.001) compared to age and sex matched controls. Abnormal values were more marked in cirrhotics, but significant changes were also observed in the non-cirrhotic group. The fibrosis score correlated positively with urinary 8-isoprostane and type III procollagen peptide and negatively with vitamin A.. Oxidant stress, as reflected in blood and urine by a wide range of pro- and antioxidant markers, is a significant feature of hepatitis C infection. Although more severe in the cirrhotic group, there was clear evidence of oxidant stress in non-cirrhotic patients. Antioxidant therapy may therefore have a role in slowing disease progression to cirrhosis.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Dinoprost; F2-Isoprostanes; Female; Glutathione; Hepatitis C, Chronic; Humans; Lipid Peroxidation; Liver Cirrhosis; Male; Middle Aged; Oxidative Stress; Selenium; Vitamin A; Vitamin E