THE EFFECTS OF INTERFERON-ALPHA ON SERUM-LIPID PEROXIDATION AND TOTALTHIOL CONTENT IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC ACTIVE HEPATITIS-C

Chronic hepatitis develops in at least half of the patients with acute hepatitis C. Although there is currently no effective therapy for chr onic hepatitis C (CHC), it is reported that Interferon-alpha (IFN alph a) has some beneficial effects. It has been suggested that changes in the oxidant-antioxidant balance may take decisive role in the progress ion of liver damage in viral hepatitis and IFN alpha might be effectiv e in the treatment of liver damage by improving the antioxidant system . In the present study, when the patients with chronic active hepatiti s-C (CAH-C) were compared to controls, serum thiobarbituric acid react ive substance (TBARS) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity as well as transaminase activities were increased, but total sulfhydr yl (t-SH) contents were decreased Following IFN alpha treatment three times a week for a period of 6 months, it has been observed that eleva ted TBARS levels and GPx activity were decreased and reduced t-SH cont ents were increased significantly in patients with chronic active hepa titis-C (CAH-C). According to our results, these findings suggests tha t oxidative stress may play an important role in HCV induced liver inj ury and IFN alpha may be useful in treatment by reducing the oxidative stress.