BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic hepatitis C infection is a major world-wide problem, frequently progressing to cirrhosis, liver failure or hepatoma. The pathological mechanisms of disease progression are unclear but oxidant stress may play a role. METHODS: Markers of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, hepatic fibrogenesis and liver function were measured in blood or urine from 42 chronic hepatitis C patients. Fibrosis was graded histologically in a subgroup of 33 patients. RESULTS: The lipid peroxidation marker 8-isoprostane and the ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione were significantly elevated (P<0.001, P=0.006). The antioxidants glutathione, selenium and vitamins A, C and E were significantly decreased (all P<0.001) compared to age and sex matched controls. Abnormal values were more marked in cirrhotics, but significant changes were also observed in the non-cirrhotic group. The fibrosis score correlated positively with urinary 8-isoprostane and type III procollagen peptide and negatively with vitamin A. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidant stress, as reflected in blood and urine by a wide range of pro- and antioxidant markers, is a significant feature of hepatitis C infection. Although more severe in the cirrhotic group, there was clear evidence of oxidant stress in non-cirrhotic patients. Antioxidant therapy may therefore have a role in slowing disease progression to cirrhosis.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic hepatitis C infection is a major world-wide problem, frequently progressing to cirrhosis, liver failure or hepatoma. The pathological mechanisms of disease progression are unclear but oxidant stress may play a role. METHODS: Markers of lipid peroxidation, antioxidant status, hepatic fibrogenesis and liver function were measured in blood or urine from 42 chronic hepatitis Cpatients. Fibrosis was graded histologically in a subgroup of 33 patients. RESULTS: The lipid peroxidation marker 8-isoprostane and the ratio of oxidized to reduced glutathione were significantly elevated (P<0.001, P=0.006). The antioxidants glutathione, selenium and vitamins A, C and E were significantly decreased (all P<0.001) compared to age and sex matched controls. Abnormal values were more marked in cirrhotics, but significant changes were also observed in the non-cirrhotic group. The fibrosis score correlated positively with urinary 8-isoprostane and type III procollagen peptide and negatively with vitamin A. CONCLUSIONS: Oxidant stress, as reflected in blood and urine by a wide range of pro- and antioxidant markers, is a significant feature of hepatitis C infection. Although more severe in the cirrhotic group, there was clear evidence of oxidant stress in non-cirrhotic patients. Antioxidant therapy may therefore have a role in slowing disease progression to cirrhosis.
Authors: Sarah J Schrieber; Roy L Hawke; Zhiming Wen; Philip C Smith; K Rajender Reddy; Abdus S Wahed; Steven H Belle; Nezam H Afdhal; Victor J Navarro; Catherine M Meyers; Edward Doo; Michael W Fried Journal: Drug Metab Dispos Date: 2011-08-24 Impact factor: 3.922