The majority of such studies have been focused on the associations between HLA Class II alleles and HCV infection [12]. In addition, the reported associations showed ethnic and geographical differences [13–16]. selleck chemical In the literature, there is only one paper that studied the association between HLA Class I and HCV in Egyptians [17]. Therefore, this study was planned out to investigate the association between the frequencies of HLA Class I antigens (HLA-A and HLA-B) and chronic HCV infection in Egyptian patients and to find out whether there is a relation between certain HLA Class I antigens and viral load, liver biopsy and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level. Patients and

healthy controls.  This is a case control study in which the 100 Egyptian unrelated patients with chronic HCV infection

were recruited from Tropical Unit and Gastroenterology Unit Mansoura University Hospital; 80 men and 20 women, with an age range from 28 to 55 years (mean 41.64 ± 5.71 years). Diagnosis of HCV infection was based on molecular and serological testing. All patients were tested for HLA-A and -B antigens. All patients had chronic hepatitis as evidenced by persistent clinical or laboratory manifestations of hepatitis Selleck FK228 more than 6 months or the presence of chronic liver disease stigmata. Liver biopsy was performed for all patients to confirm the diagnosis and rule out other causes of chronic liver diseases. Liver fibrosis was assessed using modified Ishak scoring system [18] that classifies fibrosis in five stages (F0–F4) and activity in four grades (A0–A3). For analysis, liver fibrosis was also classified either being mild (0–2), moderate (3–4) or severe (5–6). Activity was graded into minimal (0–4), mild (5–8), moderate (8–12) and severe (13–18). All patients were tested negative for both hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs antigen) and anti-HIV antibody. The control group consisted Adenosine of 150 unrelated,

age and sex matched healthy subjects living in the same geographical area and who have the same ethnic origin as patients. Controls were negative for anti-HCV antibody, HBs antigen and HIV antibody. Written informed consent was obtained from the patients and controls after approving the study protocol by local ethical committee. Exclusion criteria.  Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (ascites, oesophageal varices, encephalopathy), chronic HBV, other causes of chronic liver diseases such as autoimmune, metabolic or alcoholic liver diseases and HCC were excluded from the study. HCV testing.  Diagnosis of HCV infection was based on positive HCV antibody by third-generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA; Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, IL, USA). Circulating HCV RNA was confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and HLA-A and -B typing.