Study of the significance of percentage of peripheral CD4+ & CD8+ T cells and the hepatitis C virus genotypes in Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Sequence comparison between isolates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) indicated that HCV can be classified into a series of distinct genotypes. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of HCV genotypes, to evaluate clinical relevance of percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in blood, and to find out predictors of response to interferon (IFN) therapy in Egyptian chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients. The present study included 61 CHC patients who were subjected to HCV-RNA detection, HCV genotyping, and determination of percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in blood before and after six months treatment with IFN.

Hepatitis C virus transmission in family members of Egyptian patients with HCV related chronic liver disease.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Egypt has become a major public health problem. In the present study, sexual and intrafamilial transmission of HCV infection were assessed in the family members of 200 Egyptian patients (index patients) with HCV-RNA positive and biopsy ascertained chronic hepatitis C. Index patients were 139 men (mean age 55+/-11 years) and 61 women (mean age 48+/-8 years).

Duration of peginterferon therapy in acute hepatitis C: a randomized trial.

Spontaneous resolution of acute hepatitis C virus infection cannot be predicted, and chronic evolution of the disease occurs in a majority of cases. To assess the efficacy and safety of peginterferon alpha-2b administered for 8, 12, or 24 weeks in patients with acute hepatitis C virus infection a total of 161 patients were identified with acute hepatitis C virus infection. Of these, 30 patients refused treatment but were retained in the study as a nonrandomized comparison group.

Peginterferon {alpha}-2b and ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C genotype 4: impact of treatment duration and viral kinetics on sustained virological response.

Background: The response rates and duration of peginterferon alpha (PEG-IFN-alpha) and ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C genotype 4, the prevalent genotype in the Middle East and Africa, are poorly documented.

Aims: To compare the efficacy and safety of 24, 36, or 48 weeks of PEG-IFN-alpha-2b and ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C genotype 4.

Methods: In this prospective, randomised, double blind study, 287 patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4 were randomly assigned to PEG-IFN-alpha-2b (1.

Cellular immune responses in seronegative sexual contacts of acute hepatitis C patients.

Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) is typically defined as new viremia and antibody seroconversion. Rates and immunologic correlates of hepatitis C clearance have therefore been based on clearance of viremia only in individuals who initially had an antibody response. We sought to characterize the immunological correlates of clearance in patients with acute hepatitis C and their sexual contacts.