Marcadores inflamatórios e bioquímicos em portadores de hepatite viral c ao longo do tratamento combinado com interferon alfa peguilhado e ribavirina

Abstract

Viral hepatitis represents one of the greatest public health problems in the world and also in Brazil due to the high prevalence. In the western region of Rio Grande do Sul, the municipalities bordering Argentina and Uruguay have the highest number of reported cases, and in the municipality of Uruguaiana, the hepatitis C virus is the most prevalent. Chronic hepatitis C is asymptomatic in the vast majority of cases, which makes its diagnosis very difficult; however, routine biochemical examinations are important in monitoring infection and inflammation in the liver. Chronic hepatitis C can progress to cirrhosis or hepatocarcinoma, leading to death. Treatment of carriers includes combined antiviral therapy of pegylated interferon alfa and ribavirin, drugs distributed by the Unified Health System. However, research indicates that patients with chronic hepatitis C in combination treatment have several adverse effects at the systemic level. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine inflammatory and biochemical markers in patients with chronic hepatitis C who are taking combination therapy with pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin. The 43 patients were recruited at the referral service of the municipality of Uruguaiana (CAMMI) and submitted to a collection of whole blood in EDTA tube (10 mL) after agreeing to participate in the study. The clinical information of the carrier was obtained through the patient's medical records, and the biochemical and inflammatory parameters were determined through commercial kits. The results found in hepatic function markers (GOT, GTP, GGT and ALP) are statistically increased at the time of HCV diagnosis in relation to the control group. On the other hand, the levels of albumin and adiponectin are significantly decreased in the HCV group compared to the control group. An improvement in the levels of these biochemical markers was observed throughout the combined treatment. Acute phase proteins have statistically increased levels in the HCV group compared to the control group, however, throughout the combined therapy there is a statistically significant reduction in the levels of these proteins reaching similar values to the control group. The expression of inflammatory cytokines is statistically increased at the time of HCV diagnosis in relation to the control group, and again, the combined treatment reduces their levels statistically. With this, it is suggested that at the end of the combined therapy there was an improvement in the inflammatory process of the liver, which contributes to the quality of life of the patient.