Can zinc levels predict response to pegylated-interferon and ribavirin therapy in hepatitis C genotype 4 infected Egyptian patients?

Background And Aims: Zinc has been found to be low in chronic hepatitis patients. Its level was correlated with response to Interferon/ribavirin therapy in patients infected with hepatitis C genotype 1. In Egypt, inexpensive predictors to treatment response in Hepatitis C genotype 4 infected patients are desperately needed. We aim to explore if pretreatment zinc serum levels correlate with response to pegylated- interferon and ribavirin therapy in Egyptian patients.

Methods: This is an observational prospective study where 57 treatment naive hepatitis C genotype 4 infected patients that were Hepatitis B and Human Immunodeficiency virus negative were recruited in a hospital setting. The study was performed from October 2010 till June 2012. Patients had Liver biopsy and basic biochemical profiles were performed pretreatment for all patients. Treatment consisted of 48 weeks of pegylated-interferon-alpha2a and ribavirin therapy. Blood samples were withdrawn from 21 healthy subjects to compare zinc levels and other biochemical markers. Patients were followed up to 72 weeks.

Results: Pretreatment serum zinc levels were significantly lower in hepatitis C infected patients compared to healthy volunteers (p < 0.05). Moreover, zinc levels correlated to sustained virological response in treated patients (p = 0.00).

Conclusion: Serum zinc levels can be used as an inexpensive predictor to effective Pegylated-interferon/ribavirin therapy in Egyptian patients infected with Hepatitic C genotype 4.