The association between treatment response of hepatitis C patiens with serum 8-OHDG levels and iron metabolism parameters

Chronic hepatitis C virus associates with elevated production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). 8-OHdG is the most common oxidative base damaged products of ROS that is observed in DNA. It is suggested that Interferon (IFN)treatment reduces the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C patients.In this study we investigated whether 8OHdG levels would be a marker that defines the response under the IFN treatmentin patients with chronic hepatitis C. For this reason, we investigated the associations between 8OHdG levels with iron, iron binding and ferrite levels for the groups, which respondent to IFN, non respondent to IFN and recrudescent patients.81 patients were included in this study (60 patients, 21 healthy). All sick patients have had positive HCV-RNA for more than 6 months. Sick patients were divided into three groups; 1st group was respondent to the treatment (n=25), 2nd group was not respondent to the treatment (n=19), and 3rd group was recrudescent patients (n=16).PEG-Interferon was applied for 48 weeks for the patients with treatment criteria. HCV –RNA values and routine parameters were measured at the end of each month during the treatment and finally at the end of the treatment. Serum 8OHdG levels, iron, iron binding and ferrite levels, gama-glutamil transaminase (GGT), alanin transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartat transaminase (AST), albumin, and total protein levels were measured. HCV-RNA levels were measured with PCR method, 8-OHdG was measured with ELİSA method and standard laboratory measurement techniques were used for others. There was not any significant difference in terms of 8-OHdG levels for all groups (p=0,104). Even though iron and ferrite levels elevated in HCV group, a significant elevation was not observed (for iron and ferrite, p values are respectively 0,152, 0,082). Also there was not any significant difference for iron binding capacity (p=0,267). However albumin levels were significantly lower for all three groups. ALT, AST, ALP, GGT enzyme levels were significantly higher in HCV group compared to the control group. As a result 8-OHdG serum levels did not affected the response for patients with chronic hepatitis under the treatment of IFN. However it might have an effect on response to chronic hepatitis not respondent or recrudescent group for elderly patients. Wider populations are mandatory to study interactions between parameters such as; 8OHdG, ferritin, iron levels, and age.