Evaluation of Interleukin-18 as a Non Invasive Marker of Liver Fibrosis among Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Patients.

Background: The World Health Organization has declared hepatitis C a global health problem, with approximately 3% of the world's population (roughly 170-200 million people) infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). In Egypt, Chronic hepatitis C is the main cause of liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Liver biopsy is currently the gold standard method for ascertaining the presence of cirrhosis, and scoring the severity of necroinflammation and fibrosis, but it is invasive, expensive and associated with rare but serious complications.