Monocyte adhesion molecules expression in patients with chronic hepatitis C liver disease.

Background: Chronic viral hepatitis is histologically characterized by predominantly periportal infiltration of mononuclear cells, including lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages. Intralobular infiltration of these inflammatory cells is an ominous sign of deterioration and a criterion for disease activity.

Objective: To assess the monocyte inflammatory milieu, monocytes adhesion molecules, their endothelial receptors, cytokines and chemokines in patients with HCV induced chronic liver disease, in an attempt to clarify the role of blood monocytes in induction of inflammation and fibrogenesis in chronic hepatitis C liver disease.