Serum Vitamin D as a Predictor to the Response of Interferon Therapy in HCV Genotype 4

Background and Aim: Chronic infection with Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a huge problem both globally and at the level of the individual patient. We aimed to determine the incidence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with chronic hepatitis C. In addition, we evaluated associations of vitamin D (Vit D) serum levels with the virologic response of interferon-Alfa based treatment in patients chronically infected with HCV in Egypt.Subject and Methods: Blood samples were taken from 206 patients who are suffering from chronic hepatitis C disease divided into responders (n=126) and non-responders (n=80) according to their initial response to treatment with normalization of aminotransferases (ALT and AST) levels and clearance of the virus denoted by negative HCV-RNA by PCR after 6 months of receiving treatment. Also 100 blood samples from controls were taken. The following were done: History taking, general examination, liver function tests, hepatitis markers, HCV quantitation by real time PCR and quantitation of Vit.D level by ELISA.Results: There was significant differences between responders and non responders to interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C patients before treatment as regards the mean values of Vit D (p=0.001). Stepwise multivariate logistic regression showed that Vit D (p=0.002) was found to be significant predictor for response to interferon therapy of hepatitis C patients.Conclusion: Serum levels of Vitamin D is a significant predictor for response to interferon therapy of hepatitis C patients genotype 4.