Author/Authors :
Yosry, Ayntan Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Endemic Medicine Department, Egypt , El-Hendawy, Ali Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Pathology Department, Egypt , EL-Sahhar, Medhat Police Authority Hospital - Hepatology and Gastroenterology Department, Egypt , Esmat, Gantal Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Endemic Medicine Department, Egypt , Abdel-Hafez, Hanan Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Endemic Medicine Department, Egypt , El-Taweel, Ahmed Ain-Shams University - Faculty of Medicine - Pathology Department, Egypt , El -Neklayvi, Mohamed Ministry of Health and Population - National Hepatology and Tropical Medicine Research Institute - Tropical Medicine Department, Egypt , Zayed, Naglaa Cairo University - Faculty of Medicine - Endemic Medicine Department, Egypt
Abstract :
Background/Aim: In chronic hepatitis C. (HCV) infection, hepatocyte over-expression of Cyclooxygenase- 2(COX-2) may play an important role in prolonged acceleration of necro-inflammation, resistance to therapy in addition to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the extent of COX-2 expression in liver biopsies obtained from Egyptian patients with chronic HCV and to determine the effect of anti-viral therapy. Patients and Methods: Retrospective demographic, laboratory and histopathological data obtained from treated 25 patients and IFN- naive non treated patients (n=26) with biopsy-proven chronic HCV patients in addition to 8 patients with post HCV cirrhotic patients. Archived liver biopsy specimens which were done pre and post anti-viral therapy were retrieved from the patients medical records. Liver biopsies were evaluated for inflammation and fibrosis and the extent of COX-2 expression was detected by immuno-histochemical technique. COX-2 expression was graded according to the percentage and intensity of positively stained hepatocytes in comparison to the normal liver biopsies (n=I4) obtained from the donor for living related liver transplantation LDLT. Results: Liver specimens obtained from patients and control groups showed different grades of COX-2 expression. The extent of COX-2 expression was greater in liver specimens obtained from chronic HCV patients than in normal liver biopsies. There was a high significant expression of COX-2 in chronic hepatitis patients compared to the liver cirrhosis patients as P 0.02. Following treatment with IFN, there was a significant reduction in COX-2 expression (pvalue 0.01) which was independent of the sustained virological response. Conclusion: The over-expression of hepatocyte COX-2 in chronic HCV patients was reduced following treatment with IFN-based therapy irrespective of the treatment outcome.
Keywords :
Cyclooxygenase 2 , Egypt , IFN , ribavirin , HCV
