老年慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者伴肺性缺氧与肝功能损害的相关性研究

目的探讨老年慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）患者伴肺性缺氧、二氧化碳潴留与肝功能损害的相关性研究。方法测定患者治疗前后外周白细胞计数、肝功能及动脉血气分析，各参数值的组间采用t检验，动脉血气值与肝功能检测结果间作相关性直线回归分析。结果老年COPD患者治疗后动脉血氧分压（PaO2）、外周血白细胞、中性粒细胞计数和肝功能各参数值均有明显改善（P〈0．01）；患者治疗后PaO2比治疗前明显升高，动脉血二氧化碳分压（PaCO2）比治疗前明显下降（P〈0．01）；pH值、PaO2与谷氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）结果呈显著负相关；PaCO2与ALT、AST结果呈显著正相关（P均〈0．01）。结论老年COPD患者伴肺性缺氧或伴有二氧化碳潴留时合并酸中毒对肝脏功能损害明显加重；给予抗感染、保肝、支持疗法等治疗后肺性缺氧控制，肝功能可恢复正常。     

复方银杏叶胶囊对大鼠肝损伤的防护作用

目的：观察复方银杏叶胶囊（CGB）的保肝作用。方法：采用大鼠免疫性肝损伤模型，比较CGB与银杏叶提取物（GB）对大鼠肝脏功能保护作用。结果：CGB高、中刺量组大鼠血清天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、总胆红素（TBil），与模型组比较，差异均有显著性意义（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）；GB组大鼠血清ALT、ALP、TBil与模型组比较，差异均有显著性意义（P〈0．05或P〈0．01），但AST与模型组比较差异无显著性意义（P〉0．05）。结论：CGB与GB均有改善免疫性肝损伤大鼠肝功能效应，但CGB作用优于CB。     

非手术与手术治疗肝硬化并脾功能亢进患者肝功能损害的对比观察

目的对比观察非手术与手术治疗肝硬化并脾功能亢进患者肝功能损害的临床疗效和安全性。方法将58例肝硬化并脾功能亢进患者分为非手术组（34例）和手术组（24例）。并对两组患者治疗前后临床表现、肝功能[丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、总胆红素（TBil）、直接胆红素（DBil）]和不良反应进行比较,探讨非手术与手术治疗肝硬化脾功能亢进患者肝功能损害的疗效和安全性。结果两组治疗后1周和2周时,ALT和AST均显著降低（P〈0．01,P〈0．05）;与非手术组比较,手术组治疗后1周和2周时,ALT、AST降低显著优于非手术组（P〈0．01,P〈0．05）。两种治疗方法均能改善患者的临床症状,缓解并发症,且手术治疗较非手术治疗不良反应少。结论手术和非手术治疗均能显著改善肝硬化并脾功能亢进患者肝功能损害,且手术治疗改善肝功能疗效显著,不良反应较少,安全性较好。     

丹栀逍遥散加味对肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪性肝病及胰岛素抵抗的影响

目的：观察丹栀逍遥散加味对湿热内蕴型肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪性肝病的作用及胰岛素抵抗的影响。方法：将60例肥胖者（BMI≥28）辨证为湿热内蕴型肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者给予丹栀逍遥散加味口服，疗程24周，并与同期60例健康体检者比较。治疗结束后观察所有患者体重指数（BMI）、腰臀比（WHR）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、空腹血糖（FPG）、空腹胰岛素（FINS）、胰岛素敏感性指数（ISI）、血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）及血压变化。结果：治疗前湿热内蕴型肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者与健康组比较ISI显著下降（P〈0．01），治疗后患者BIM、WHR、ALT、AST、TC、TG明显下降（P〈0．05），ISI明显上升（P〈0．05）。结论：丹栀逍遥散加味不仅能显著降低湿热内蕴型肥胖伴非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者BMI、WHR、血脂，保肝降酶，同时也能改善胰岛素抵抗，预防高血压病、糖尿病等相关疾病。     

60例肝移植患者血清ALT、AST及LDH变化分析

目的研究肝移植患者术前及术后血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）和乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）的变化规律,探讨其临床价值。方法采用全自动生化分析仪Olympus AU5400检测60例成功进行肝移植手术患者的血清ALT、AST及LDH等3项生化指标,观察这些指标在术前1d、术后1、10、20、30d及术后1年的动态变化和相互关系。结果ALT、AST及LDH在术后1d均明显升高（P〈0．01）,并于术后10d明显下降（P〈0．01）,3项指标间在肝移植术前及术后均具有良好的相关性;术后ALT变化出现“双峰”波动的患者,第二次ALT升高多出现在20～30d,且升高幅度较低。结论ALT、AST和LDH是肝移植术后早期反映肝功能状况的可靠指标,其不同时期的变化波动及相互关系为肝移植的效果评价及预后提供了重要依据。     

乙肝泰胶囊治疗慢性乙型肝炎的远期疗效观察

目的：观察乙肝泰胶囊治疗慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）患者的远期疗效。方法：将120例慢性乙型肝炎患者随机分为治疗组60例、对照组60倒。治疗组服用乙肝泰胶囊，对照组服用拉米夫定片，治疗12月，于治疗前后及停药12个月后检测肝功能及乙肝病毒标志物的变化。结果：治疗结束后，两组均能明显改善患者血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、谷氨酰转肽酶（GGT）、白蛋白（ALB）、球蛋白（GLB），其中治疗组升高Alb、降低Glb水平的作用优于对照组（P〈0．05）。停药12个月后，治疗组在改善ALT、Alb、Glb方面优于对照组（P〈0．05）；治疗结束后。对照组DNA阴转率优于治疗组（P〈0．05）。停药12个月后治疗组与对照组的DNA阴转率无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。对照组的反跳率明显高于治疗组（P〉0．05）。结论：乙肝泰胶囊可能降低慢性乙型肝炎患者耶VDNA含量．改善肝功能。远期疗效优于拉米夫定。     

健脾补肾解毒降酶方治疗慢性乙型肝炎合并脂肪肝59例

目的：探讨健脾补肾解毒降酶方对慢性乙型肝炎合并脂肪肝的临床疗效。方法：选择慢性乙型肝炎合并脂肪肝患者105例。随机分为治疗组59例,对照组46例。治疗组患者1：7服健脾补肾解毒降酶方,对照组患者服用血脂康,疗程均为12周。观察两组治疗后的总有效率、肝功能及血脂的变化。结果：经治疗后治疗组总有效率优于对照组（P〈0．05）;患者丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）和γ-谷氨酰转肽酶（GGT）均明显降低,且优于对照组（P〈0．05或0．01）;同时总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）及低密度脂蛋白（LDL）较治疗前显著降低（P〈0．05或0．01）,其中TG在两组比较差异有显著性意义（P〈0．05）。结论：健脾补肾解毒降酶方治疗慢性乙型肝炎合并脂肪肝疗效显著,能明显改善肝功能,降低血脂。     

肝性黄疸病的中医证型与肝功能指标相关性研究

[目的]研究肝性黄疸之阴黄证和阳黄证与肝功能指标的相关性。[方法]观察163例肝性黄疸患者的临床表现，按照中医辨证原则进行分型，并给予相应的治疗，对阴黄证与阳黄证肝功能等指标进行比较。[结果]阳黄证有效率为89．4％。阴黄证为70．0％（P〈0．01）；阴黄证血清总胆红素、直接胆红素（DB）、间接胆红素（IB）、DB／IB、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸转氨酶（AST）、ALT／AST、清蛋白／球蛋白、碱性磷酸酶、总胆酸不同于阳黄症（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）。[结论]阴黄证难辨难治，它与阳黄证除临床表现不同外，还具有客观量化标准，这可能为其证的实质研究提供了方向。     

大鼠酒精性脂肪肝两种建模方法的比较

目的比较生理途径诱导与乙醇灌胃建立大鼠酒精性脂肪肝模型的差异。方法雄性sD大鼠随机分成对照组、饮用乙醇、乙醇灌胃组,12周后测定大鼠血清中丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、γ-谷氨酰基转移酶（γ-GT）水平,并观察大鼠肝脏、胃肠组织形态学改变。结果12周后饮用乙醇组与乙醇灌胃组大鼠AST、γ-GT水平、肝指数与对照组比较差异具有统计学意义（P均〈0．05）,且肝组织出现大量脂肪变性,伴有局部炎症和坏死;饮用乙醇组与乙醇灌胃组ALT、AST、γ-GT、肝指数差异无统计学意义,肠胀气发生率差异具有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。结论采用生理途径诱导大鼠酒精性脂肪肝动物模型更具有应用价值。     

不同剂量阿托伐他汀对≥85岁急性冠脉综合征患者疗效和安全性研究

目的 评价不同剂量阿托伐他汀对≥85岁老年急性冠脉综合征（ACS）患者的疗效和安全性。方法采用随机、开放的方法,选取77例≥85岁老年ACS住院患者,分别给予阿托伐他汀10、20、40mg／d睡前服用。治疗2周后观察高敏C-反应蛋白（hs—CRP）、白介素-6（IL．6）、血清总胆固醇（TC）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL—C）、丙氨酸氨基转移酶（ALT）、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶（AST）、肌酸激酶（CK）、肌酐（Cr）、空腹血糖（FBG）水平,并比较各剂量组间的差异。结果3组治疗后hs．CRP、IL．6水平显著下降（P〈0．05或P〈0．01）,降低呈剂量依赖性（P〈0．01）,20mg组和40mg组治疗后TC、LDL—C水平较治疗前显著降低（P〈0．01）。10mg组和20mg组中无因ALT和（或）AST增高〉3倍正常上限而停药者,40mg组有2例因ALT增高〉3倍正常上限而停药。3组患者CK、Cr、FBG水平差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,3组均未出现他汀类药物引起的肌损害。结论≥85岁老年ACS患者早期应用阿托伐他汀是有效的。阿托伐他汀10mg、20mg对于≥85岁老年ACS患者安全性良好,40mg组转氨酶升高,不良反应有所增多。     

Probability of C282Y homozygosity decreases as liver transaminase activities increase in participants with hyperferritinemia in the hemochromatosis and iron overload screening study

Hemochromatosis is considered by many to be an uncommon disorder, although the prevalence of HFE (High Iron) 282 Cys → Tyr (C282Y) homozygosity is relatively high in Caucasians. Liver disease is one of the most consistent findings in advanced iron overload resulting from hemochromatosis. Liver clinics are often thought to be ideal venues for diagnosis of hemochromatosis, but diagnosis rates are often low. The Hemochromatosis and Iron Overload Screening (HEIRS) Study screened 99,711 primary care participants in North America for iron overload using serum ferritin and transferrin saturation measurements and HFE genotyping. In this HEIRS substudy, serum hepatic transaminases activities (e.g., alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) were compared between 162 C282Y homozygotes and 1,367 nonhomozygotes with serum ferritin levels >300 μg/L in men and >200 μg/L in women and transferrin saturation >45% in women and 50% in men. The probability of being a C282Y homozygote was determined for AST and ALT ranges. Mean ALT and AST activities were significantly lower in C282Y homozygotes than nonhomozygotes. The probability of being a C282Y homozygote increased as the ALT and AST activities decreased. CONCLUSION: Patients with hyperferritinemia are more likely to be C282Y homozygotes if they have normal liver transaminase activities. This paradox could explain the low yields of hemochromatosis screening reported by some liver clinics.     

Ezetimibe improves glucose metabolism by ameliorating hepatic function in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes

Aims/Introduction: Several experimental studies have shown that ezetimibe improves steatosis and insulin resistance in the liver. This suggests that ezetimibe may improve glucose metabolism, as well as lipid metabolism, by inhibiting hepatic lipid accumulation. Therefore, we compared HbA1c levels after 3 months ezetimibe treatment with baseline levels in patients with type 2 diabetes and examined the factors associated with reductions in HbA1c following ezetimibe administration. Materials and Methods: Lipid profiles, hepatic function, and HbA1c were assessed before and after 3 months treatment with 10 mg/day ezetimibe in 96 patients with type 2 diabetes and hypercholesterolemia. Regression analysis was used to investigate associations between metabolite levels and the percentage change in HbA1c. Results: Low‐density lipoprotein–cholesterol was significantly lower after 3 months treatment compared with baseline, and HbA1c decreased in approximately 50% of patients. Univariate linear regression analyses showed that changes in HbA1c were significantly associated with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), the aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/ALT ratio, and age. Two‐tailed chi‐square tests revealed that serum ALT ≥35 IU/L and an AST/ALT ratio <1.0 were significantly associated with decreases in HbA1c following ezetimibe administration. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicate that ezetimibe may improve glucose metabolism. Serum ALT levels and the AST/ALT ratio were useful predictors of a glucose metabolism response to ezetimibe. This trial was registered with UMIN (no. UMIN000005307). (J Diabetes Invest, doi: 10.1111/j.2040‐1124.2011.00147.x, 2011)     

Combined pantethine and probucol therapy for Japanese patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Aims: To evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of combined pantethine and probucol therapy in Japanese patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver function, serum cytokines, serum adiponectin and liver biopsy findings were investigated. Methods: Sixteen patients with NASH and hyperlipidemia were treated with pantethine (600 mg/day) and probucol (500 mg/day) for 48 weeks. Results: The mean pretreatment aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were 66 IU/L and 113 IU/L, respectively, which showed a significant decrease with treatment to 33 IU/L and 51 IU/L (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05), respectively. Total cholesterol was also significantlydecreased (P < 0.01). In addition, the mean serum TGF-beta level was significantly decreased, while the mean serum level of high molecular adiponectin was increased. In eight patients, liver biopsy was performed both before and after treatment. In four of these patients, inflammation was improved, and fibrosis was improved in two patients. No side-effects of this treatment were noted. Conclusion: Combined pantethine and probucol therapy was safe and effective for Japanese NASH patients, with its efficacy being mediated through adiponectin and TGF-beta.     

Improvement of liver function parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with thiazolidinediones

To increase our understanding of the effect of thiazolidinediones, a new class of antidiabetic drugs, on liver function as well as glycemic control, we investigated liver function before, during, and after treatment with troglitazone and pioglitazone. A total of 32 patients with type 2 diabetes were studied. Glycemic control and liver function were measured before, during, and after 4 to 12 weeks of treatment with troglitazone or pioglitazone. Glycemic control was assessed by fasting levels of plasma glucose, hemoglobin A 1c , and serum insulin, and liver function was assessed by asparatate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma -glutamyl transpeptidase ( gamma-GTP). Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance was used as an index of insulin resistance. During treatment with troglitazone, fasting plasma glucose and hemoglobin A 1c levels and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance were significantly decreased. Serum AST, ALT, and gamma-GTP levels were significantly decreased during treatment (AST, -17.4%; ALT, -27.2%; gamma-GTP, -47.9%) and returned to pretreatment levels after 4 weeks of withdrawal of the drug. A similar tendency was observed during treatment with pioglitazone (AST, -4.7%; ALT, -16.4%; gamma-GTP, -30.8%). These data suggest that, in contrast to the deterioration of liver function reported in a small subset of patients treated with troglitazone, treatment with thiazolidinediones was associated with a decrease in serum transaminases in most patients. The improvement in liver function parameters known to be associated with fatty liver in the present study, together with an improvement in fatty liver reported for another class of insulin sensitizers, biguanides, suggests that thiazolidinediones may have a beneficial effect on fatty liver.     

严重急性呼吸综合征患者肝功能损害的动态观察

目的 动态观察严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)患者的肝功能损害情况。方法 125例SAPS患者均在发病第1周、2周、4周、8周、12周空腹采血进行血清丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(AST)和其他相关指标的动态监测,分析总结SARS病程中各肝功能指标的变化规律。结果 在SARS病程的第1、2周ALT开始升高,第4周后随病情好转开始缓慢下降,持续到第8周左右,到病程第12周才能完全恢复正常,重型患者比普通型患者恢复得慢。在SARS病程中AST升高不多,且在病程第4-8周时能很快恢复正常,重型患者升高的幅度较普通型患者高。部分病例的其他肝功能指标在ALT、AST峰值时有一过性改变,但很快恢复正常。结论 SAPS患者存在明显的肝功能损害,且恢复较慢,提示在临床诊治过程中要注意护肝治疗。     

Serum alanine aminotransferase in skeletal muscle diseases

Although elevation of the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) following liver injury is well known, confusion exists concerning skeletal muscle injury as the cause of this rise. We reviewed the records of 16 patients who had muscle necrosis without evidence of liver disease. The patients were divided into three groups: extreme exercise, polymyositis, and seizures. All patients exhibited markedly elevated creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase levels consistent with muscle injury. In acute cases, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and ALT were both elevated, and the AST/ALT ratio was greater than 3, but this ratio approached 1 after a few days because of a faster decline in AST. In conclusion, this difference in half-life accounts for the comparable AST and ALT levels in our cases with chronic muscle injury.     

Correlation of serum aminotransferases with HCV RNA levels and histological findings in patients with chronic hepatitis C: the role of serum aspartate transaminase in the evaluation of disease progression

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether HCV RNA levels can be considered to be predictors of hepatocellular injury in patients with chronic hepatitis C, and whether aminotransferase levels are markers of liver damage. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study on 112 patients with chronic hepatitis C. For each patient, we considered the baseline alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and serum aspartate transaminase (AST) levels, baseline HCV RNA, HCV genotype, histological evaluation and the mean aminotransferase levels measured in the 6 months following liver biopsy. RESULTS: We found a statistically significant correlation between HCV RNA and aminotransferase levels measured during the follow-up (AST: r = 0.24, P = 0.01; ALT: r = 0.27, P = 0.004). We also observed a statistically significant correlation between HCV RNA levels and histological activity index (HAI) (r = 0.25, P = 0.008), as well as between the HAI and both baseline AST (r = 0.34, P = 0.0002) and ALT levels (r = 0.23, P = 0.01). These findings were confirmed by the mean aminotransferase values during follow-up. In the regression analysis, the fibrosis score was significantly and independently associated with baseline AST and ALT values. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate a statistically significant correlation of aminotransferase values with the histological parameters, and an even stronger correlation with the AST values. Our study therefore suggests that aminotransferase values, especially AST, may correlate with liver damage.     

Antifibrotic effect of aloe vera in viral infection-induced hepatic periportal fibrosis

AIM: To investigate the anti-oxidative and anti-fibrotic effects of aloe vera in patients with liver fibrosis.METHODS: Aloe vera high molecular weight fractions (AHM) were processed by patented hyper-dry system in combination of freeze-dry technique with microwave and far infrared-ray radiation. Fifteen healthy volunteers as the control group and 40 patients were included. The patients were randomly subdivided into two equal groups: the conventional group was treated with placebo (starch), and AHM group was treated with 0.15 gm/d AHM, both for 12 consecutive weeks. The patients were investigated before and after treatment. Serum activity of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), hyaluronic acid (HA), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and matrixmetalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were determined. The reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in liver were assayed and the expression of hepatic α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) was identified by immunohistochemistry.RESULTS: At the start of the study, the hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed fibro-proliferated bile ductules, thick fibrous septa and dense inflammatory cellular infiltration in the patients before treatment. The use of AHM for 12 wk significantly ameliorated the fibrosis, inhibited the inflammation, and resulted in minimal infiltration and minimal fibrosis compared to the conventional group. The enzyme activities of the liver (ALT, AST and ALP) were attenuated after treatment in both groups, and the decrease in the AHM group was more significant as compared with the conventional group. Similar to the AST, the MDA levels were significantly higher before treatment, and were attenuated after treatment in both groups. In contrast, the hepatic glutathione content in the patients were decreased significantly in the AHM group compared to the controls. The serum levels of the fibrosis markers (HA, TGF-β and MMP-2) were also reduced significantly after treatment. The expression of α-SMA was modified in patients before and after treatment as compared with the normal controls. In the conventional group, there was only thin and incomplete parenchymal α-SMA positive septum joining the thickened centrilobular veins, while in the AHM group, few α-SMA positive cells were present in sinusoid and lobule after treatment.CONCLUSION: Oral supplementation with AHM could be helpful in alleviating the fibrosis and inflammation of hepatic fibrosis patients.     

The association of liver transaminase activity with presence and severity of premature coronary artery disease

There is growing clinical interest in liver transaminases as novel biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. We investigated the possible association of serum liver transaminase activity with the presence and angiographic severity of premature coronary artery disease (CAD). A cross-sectional study was conducted on 187 younger patients (females < 55 years and males < 45 years) who underwent coronary angiography and had serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) measured. Evaluation of coronary stenosis was by Gensini score. Both ALT and AST were significantly correlated with the presence of CAD in univariate and multivariate analyses. Both ALT and AST were also significantly correlated with Gensini score even after adjustment for potential confounders. Serum ALT and AST levels are independently positively associated with the risk and severity of premature CAD, suggesting that these enzymes could serve as surrogate markers for cardiovascular risk in this specific group of patients.     

Persistent Oxidative Stress in Patients with Chronic Active Hepatitis-C Infection After Antiviral Therapy Failure

Background/Aims:

Oxidative stress and hepatocellular pathological changes are common associations with chronic hepatitis C virus (CHC) disease. The aim of this study was to assess serum antioxidant-oxidant (Redox) balance in patients with CHC infection before and after intake of the traditional antiviral therapy (pegylated interferon α-2b and oral ribavirin).

Patients and Methods:

Blood samples from 50 biopsy-proven CHC patients, with no prior anti-viral treatment and persistently elevated serum transaminase levels for 6 months, as well as 15 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were used for determination of the antioxidants: reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), α tocopherol and ascorbic acid as well as lipid peroxidation (LPO) index (malondialdehyde [MDA]). The measurements were repeated in the diseased group 25 weeks after pegylated interferon α-2b and ribavirin combination therapy.

Results:

Serum levels of bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly higher in CHC patients than in the control group (P < 0.05). Pretreatment serum MDA values were significantly higher in patients with CHC infection than the control group (P < 0.001), while serum antioxidant levels were significantly lower (P < 0.001). Responders (10 patients) had lower pretreatment serum levels of MDA than non-responders (35 patients) (P < 0.001). Both groups were comparable for the antioxidant serum levels. There was significant negative correlation between serum MDA and serum SOD, GSH, α tocopherol, and ascorbic acid concentrations in CHC patients. On the other hand, there was no correlation between the studied parameters and serum bilirubin, albumin, ALT, and AST.

Conclusions:

Redox imbalance was detected in patients with CHC. Responders had significantly lower levels of MDA than non-responders. Serum MDA may be used as a pretreatment predictor of response to antiviral treatment in patients with CHC.