Authors : Mohammad Najafizadeh , Zaker Karayev and Naser Farhadi
Abstract: To diagnose of Hepatitis generally an ultrasound of the abdominal area should be performed. The most useful laboratory tests, particularly for screening evidence of liver disease, are serum aminotranspherases and alkaline phosphatase levels. Undoubtedly, cell-mediated immune responses of antiviral cytokines contribute to the pathogenesis of liver injury associated with Hepatitis C. This study aimed to evaluate role of liver ultrasonography in detecting HCV-infected patients and comparison it with serum inflammatory indexes level and with serum T-helper 1 cytokines level. Fifty four serologically confirmed HCV-infected patients and 31 healthy controls were enrolled using sequential sampling method. Ultrasonography (US) (using Medison 8000, Korea) was performed by one radiologist for investigation the liver echogenicity after the patients and control groups underwent an overnight fast. Serum levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α and IL-2 cytokines was checked in all participants, using ELISA. Serum levels of ALT, AST and ALP were also determined (using Photometer) in both patients and control group. T-test was used to test the differences between the patients and control groups. Associations between the quantitative data were studied by correlation analysis. Data analysis of US results for liver echogenicity showed significant differences between patient and control groups (p<0.05). About 47.1% of patients had elevated serum ALT level and 74.5% of them had also elevated serum ALP levels. Serum levels of cytokines were higher in patient group than control but it was only significant for TNF-α. Serum AST level in increased liver echogenicity group was higher than normal group. There was no other significant relationship between liver US results and serum inflammatory indexes or cytokines level. According to considerable proportion of agreement in liver ultrasonography results and relationship between liver echogenicity and serum AST levels, we concluded that sonography may play an important role in the detection, characterization and management of Hepatitis C.
Mohammad Najafizadeh , Zaker Karayev and Naser Farhadi , 2009. Role of Liver Ultrasound in Diagnostic Process of Hepatitis C Disease: Comparison with Serum Inflammatory Indices Level and T-Helper 1 Cytokine Responses. Research Journal of Biological Sciences, 4: 200-203.