Role of interleukin 16 and interferon alpha in newly diagnosed acute hepatitis C virus infection and its relation to HCV RNA levels

Hepatitis is a medical illness that causes liver inflammation and is recognized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the organ's tissue. Acute hepatitis lasts shorter than six months, but chronic hepatitis lasts longer. Hepatitis C is linked to a reduction in health-related quality of life. The study aimed at assessing the diagnosis of new cases of HCV ELISA and further confirmation with RT PCR. Assessing HCV viral load of newly diagnosed HCV cases, testing the levels of some cytokines (INF-α) and IL-16 in relation to HCV infection, and comparing them with healthy control. The current study involved a total of 91 participants of which 50 were acute HCV patients and 41 were healthy individuals. The patient's blood was obtained from all subjects to be assessed for HCV viral load, IL-16, and INF-α. The number of acute HCV was 50 (54.95%) patients (24 males and 26 females). The study revealed that most of the patients with acute HCV were between the ages of 45-54 years (32%). There was a significant difference between HCV patients and BMI. The results of this study revealed that all 50 patients enrolled in the assessment were HCV ELISA positive (100%) and further confirmed by RT PCR 100% for viral load, with a 100 % ELISA sensitivity. Regarding IL-16 level, there was a significant difference was recorded between the HCV patients and the control group with P=<0.0001. Also, there was a significant difference P=<0.0001 between HCV patients and control regarding INF-α level. The study concluded that viral load estimation for newly HCV-infected patients is a vital step to monitor the treatment and control viral copies to prevent further damage of HCV on hepatocytes, and INF-α is associated with the initial viral control.