Internal Medicine: Open Access
Open Access
ISSN: 2165-8048
+44 1300 500008
ISSN: 2165-8048
+44 1300 500008
El Askary A, Hussein Y M, Alhazmi A S, Alzahrani S S, Alghamdy A N, Bayomy E S, Selim A O and Alghamdy M S
Taif University, Saudi Arabia
Zagazig University, Egypt
Al-Azhar University, Egypt
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Intern Med
Background: Many recent studies support the idea that osteopontin (OPN) can be used to predict the success of pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) alpha-2b/ribavirin therapy in chronic HCV patients. Our aim was to investigate the role of plasma OPN and its gene polymorphism at nt �¢���� 443 in response to PEG IFN in Saudi patients with chronic HCV. Methods: Blood was collected from 87 patients with chronic hepatitis C before treatment, then patients received PEG IFN ���±2b plus ribavirin combination therapy. Another 25 healthy subjects, matched for age and sex to patients, were enrolled as controls. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in OPN at nt�¢����443 and its blood level were analyzed. Results: The frequency of patients who reached sustained virological response (SVR) was increased in patients with T/T at nt�¢����443 than in those with C/C or C/T. Also the frequency of T allele was increased in responders than in non-responders. However, this increase was not statistically significant. The blood level of OPN was significantly increased in non-responders (Mean���±SD=37.21���±3.9) in comparison to responders (Mean���±SD=33.22���±4.1). Conclusion: Osteopontin blood level can be considered as reliable predictor to PEG IFN ���±2b plus ribavirin therapy in Chronic HCV Saudi patients.