A Study of the Interaction between Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Pulmonary Disorders: Assessment of Interferon Gamma and Alpha-1-Antitrypsin

Abstract

Objectives: To study lung diseases in chronic HCV infection and vice versa and to find immunological and/or hereditary interrelating factors. Material and Methods:Study included 134 individuals, all were subjected to screening for anti-HCV antibodies by ELISA, HCV-RNA by real time PCR, pulmonary function tests, quantitative assay of interferon gamma and alpha-1-antitrypsin in serum by ELISA and genotyping of alpha-1-antitrypsin gene by Light Cycler PCR.Results: 76.5% of chronic HCV patients had abnormal PFT (P = 0.03), mainly reduced DLCO and reversible airway obstruction, and 41.6% of chest diseased patients were HCV-positive with a significant decrease in large and small airways functions. Interferon therapy improved PFT parameters. Only 33% of chronic HCV infection affected by chest abnormality responded to interferon therapy while 50% of chest free patients did. Serum IFN-γ was higher in HCV and chest patients than in control (P=0.02). All serum α1AT deficient patients had M/null genotype. Conclusions:A pathogenic role of chronic HCV infection in lung diseases is evident. Interferon treatment may reduce chest complications and improve pulmonary functions. However, chest affection may reduce the response to interferon treatment. M/null genotype of α1AT gene might play a role in chronic HCV infection and chest co-affection.

The impact of hepatitis C viremia status on lung functions in chronic hepatitis c patients

“…Another important finding in this study was that the spirometric parameters, FEV1 and FVC, were significantly lower in high-viremicand low-viremic groups compared to thenon-viremic group. These findings suggested that a high viremia level is associated with reduced lung functions in patients with CHC, and are consistent with those of Ezzeldin et al who reported an association between the presence of CHC infection and decline in lung functions and also stated that treatment of the CHC infection may improve pulmonary functions 15. Similarly, a 6- year follow up study, which confirmed this finding in asthmatic patients with CHC infection, showed that the annual decline in DLCO was higher in IFN non-responders than IFN responders 4.…”