The aim of this study was to investigate the serum level of total nitric oxide in patients with genotype 4 hepatitis C virus before and after treatment with interferon and ribavirin. This study was performed on 72 patients that divided into 3 groups: Group I (Positive ELISA- Negative PCR), Group II (Positive ELISA- Positive PCR) and Group III (treated with interferon and ribavirin but still Positive ELISA- Negative PCR) and a control group of 16 healthy volunteers. The levels of nitrites/nitrates, which are representative of NO levels, were measured by the Griess method. Patients with HCV genotype 4 had significantly elevated serum levels of nitrite/nitrates in Group I (15.996 ± 2.7212 µmol/L), Group II (17.246 ± 9.7152 µmol/L) and Group III after treatment with interferon and ribavirin (27.49 ± 26.174 µmol/L), in comparing with control that produced (5.6563 ± 0.7891 µmol/L). This study indicates an elevation of total nitric oxide after treatment with interferon and ribavirin more than before treatment.
Key words: HCV genotype 4, Total Nitric Oxide, RT-PCR.
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