الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract This work was conducted on 40 patients with chronic virus hepatitis (21 patients with chronic hepatitis C with bilharzialliver, 2 patients with chronic hepatitis B and C and 17 patients with chronic hepatitis C alone) and 10 healthy age and sex matched control subjects. The objective of the present work was to study the status of plasma TGF-~l among patients with chronic virus hepatitis and its relation to age and sex, and to evaluate the effect of colchicine and oral enzyme therapy on the level ofTGF-~l. For this purpose, all patients and control subjects were subjected to the following: • History taking and thorough physical examination. • Urine and stool analysis. • Complete blood picture. • Schistosomal antibody titre (IRA) and serum procollagen III. • Liver function tests (S. bilirubin, AST, ALT, S. alkaline phosphatase, serum albumin, serum globulin, prothrombin concentration). • Renal function tests (serum urea and serum creatinine). • Hepatitis markers (HBsAb, HBcAg IgG, HCVAb and PCR for HCV antibody positive cases). • Abdominal ultrasonography and Doppler study of portal vein . •• 124b SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS • Estimation of plasma level ofTGF-~1 by ELISA technique. Then the patients were subdivided blindly to 2 groups: Group I: Includes 20 patients who receive oral enzyme therapy 400mg three times daily half an hour before meals for 3 months. Group II: Includes 20 patients who receive colchicine 0.5 mg twice daily for 5 days per week for 3 months. Then the previous investigations were repeated again. The present study revealed that plasma TGF-~ I level was significantly higher in patients with chronic virus hepatitis than control group and this level is not related to age or sex. The plasma TGF _~I level was significantly higher in patients who had chronic hepatitis C virus infection with bilharzial periportal fibrosis of liver than in patients with chronic hepatitis C alone. Also, this level of TGF _~I was significantly higher in patients with chronic virus hepatitis with ultrasonography findings of cirrhosis (cirrhotic liver pattern, splenomegaly and portal hypertension) than in those without. The plasma TGF-~l level had no correlation with liver function tests but had positive correlation with serum procollagen III. 040 125 itJ,o SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS Before treatment there was no significant difference in clinical picture, laboratory investigation, S. pro collagen III and plasma TGF- 131between group I and group II but after treatment there was improvement in clinical picture, liver profile and significant reduction of S. procollagen III and plasma TGF-131 level in group I but not in group II. ~\pl.. So the present study concluded that plasma TGF-131 level is”-a good marker of liver fibrogenesis and oral enzyme therapy is anti- TGF-131 and can reduce the hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic virus hepatitis. |