DETECTION OF STAT-1 IN PATIENTS CO-INFECTED WITH HEPATITIS B AND C RESISTANT TO INTERFERON

Stat-1 in Patients Co-Infected With Hepatitis-B

Abstract

Objective: Current study was designed to determine the STAT-1 in co-infected patients of hepatitis B and C resistant to interferon therapy. Study Design: Cross-sectional analytical study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology & Gastroenterology departments of various hospitals of Rawalpindi. Material and Methods: The study included 15 co-infected patients of hepatitis B and C resistant to interferon therapy and 15 healthy individuals as control. Methodology: Detection of STAT-1 was done by conventional PCR technique. Results: Sixty seven percent of the patients were expressing STAT-1 in their blood while 33% of the patients did not have STAT-1. Controls showed 57% detection of STAT-1 and 43% did not exhibit STAT-1. Mean age of the patients and controls was 35.90 ± 8.95.Comparison between patients and controls was done by chi square test. Fisher exact probability value obtained was 0.287 which was not significant. Conclusion: Patients suffering from hepatitis B and C co-infection resistant to interferon therapy revealed higher detection of STAT-1 which indicate greater liver damage, fibrosis and an extensive and severer disease course in co-infection.