Estimation of human interleukin-10 in patients with hepatitis B virus disease in the Iraqi population

Hepatitis B, caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV), stands as one of the foremost etiological agents behind hepatitis globally. It represents a chronic infection capable of precipitating the onset of advanced liver pathologies including liver cancer. In a comprehensive case-control study conducted at Medical City in Baghdad in 2022, involving a cohort of 150 participants, of which approximately 75 constituted the control group, and the remaining 75 individuals were diagnosed with confirmed hepatitis B virus infection through clinical testing. The mean ages of the patient and control groups were 27.36 and 29.75 years, respectively. This study meticulously examined a spectrum of parameters in the blood serum of the participants, including interleukin-10 (IL-10), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), total bilirubin, and total protein levels. Remarkably, the blood serum values of these parameters were significantly elevated across all patient groups compared to the control group (p-value = 0.001**), indicating a distinct physiological perturbation associated with HBV infection. The analysis unveiled noteworthy correlations between IL-10 and various clinical parameters. IL-10 exhibited a positive correlation with age (r = 0.569**), GOT (r = 0.841**), and total bilirubin (r = 0.817**), elucidating its potential role in disease progression. Conversely, a negative correlation was observed between IL-10 and GPT (r = -0.369**), suggesting a complex interplay between IL-10 and liver function markers. These findings underscore the utility of IL-10 as a pivotal biomarker for monitoring hepatitis B infection dynamics and assessing the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. By elucidating the intricate relationships between IL-10 and clinical parameters, this study contributes valuable insights towards advancing our understanding and management of hepatitis B-associated liver pathologies.