The Relationship Between the Serum RNA Titers of Hepatitis C Virus and Biochemical Parameters in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Abstract

Objective: Liver biopsy, as well as some non-invasive biochemical parameters are also used in monitoring patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum biochemical markers and HCV RNA titers in patients with previously untreated CHC. Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective study on anti-HCV and HCV-RNA-positive 82 patients with CHC. Eighty two healthy subjects constituted the control group. Complete blood counts, total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), C-reactive protein (CRP), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and HCV RNA levels were recorded for each patient and control subject. Neutrophil-lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and the fibrosis index based on the 4 factors (FIB-4 index) were calculated using formulas. Results: There was a significant difference in ALT, AST, GGT, TP, CRP, red cell distribution width (RDW), lymphocytes (LYM), platelets (PLT), FIB-4, and NLR between CHC patients and controls (p=<0.05). Values of HCV RNA viral load were correlated with ALT (r=0.271; p=0.014), TP (r=-0.256; p=0.02), WBC (r=-0.365; p=0.001), NEU (r=-0.362; p=0.001) and NLR (r=0.282; p=0.01) levels. Conclusion: We have shown that ALT, AST, GGT, TP, CRP, RDW, LYM, FIB-4, and NLR values are increased in CHC patients but, LYM and PLT levels were decreased. Also, levels of ALT and NLR have correlated with HCV RNA titers in CHC patients. These results have implied that noninvasive biochemical parameters may contribute to monitoring patients with CHC.