Features and role of lipid peroxidation in patients with chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1b) before and after antiviral therapy

Aim. To estimate the levels of lipid peroxidation products in erythrocytes of patients with chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1b) before the initiation of antiviral therapy and after its completion. Methods. The study included 195 patients with chronic hepatitis C (genotype 1b). The levels of conjugated dienes, triene ketones, Schiff bases and oxidation index were measured after extraction of erythrocyte membranes with chloroform/isopropanol (2:1) mixture according to I.D. Stal’naya method modified by I.A. Volchegorskiy. All patients were allocated to four groups depending on the alanine transaminase activity prior to antiviral therapy: the first group (n=52) - with normal levels of the enzyme, the second (n=74) - with elevation not exceeding 3 normal ranges, the third group (n=42) - 3 to 5 normal ranges, the fourth group (n=27) - exceeding 5 normal ranges. Antiviral treatment included pegylated interferon alfa-2b and ribavirin for 48 weeks. Results. Level of conjugated dienes, triene ketones, Schiff bases and oxidation index were ranged from 0.71±0.04 to 1.02±0.03, from 0.45±0.08 to 0.94±0.02, 0.17±0.04 to 0.41±0.04 and from 0.91±0.13 to 1.91±0.03 units respectively, which was significantly higher than normal ranges and was directly dependent on the alanine transaminase activity. In addition, in patients who did not respond to antiviral treatment, these parameters were significantly higher compared to patients with immediate virologic response (p <0.01). Conclusion. Patients with chronic hepatitis C had increased levels of lipid peroxidation products in erythrocytes; their high content in patients who did not respond to antiviral treatment may be a predictive factor for antiviral treatment effectiveness.

chronic hepatitis C, lipid peroxidation, antiviral treatment