الفهرس 
Review of literature
Physiology of liverOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 198 |  |  |
| | | from | 198 | | |
Abstract
Background: Infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the leading causes of progressive liver disease. liver disease is usually started by hepatitis, which can be progressed to fatty liver, fibrosis, cirrhosis and finally to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). AIMS: To demonstrate the relationship between the liver and pancreatic functions in HCV carriers. METHODS: Liver and pancreatic function tests were conducted on serum samples collected from 79 HCV-carriers with chronic liver disease (CLD) between April and December 2008. The panel of the tested parameters was detected Serum Enzymes: Includes gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, Albumin , total protein, in addition to the determination of Glucose and α – Amylase. Twenty of non-HCV carriers were subjected to the same tests as control group. Patients were divided into 4 subgroups according to the progression of liver disease; chronic hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. RESULTS: Levels of serum in ALT and AST were significantly higher in different patient groups than normal group. The frequency of increased (over 37 IU/l) ALT levels was 51%, while it was 57% in CH, 50% in FL and 60% in HCC. The prevalence of ALT levels in diabetic HCV carriers was 67% , while non-diabetic HCV carriers was 43%. The frequency of raised (over 37 IU/l) AST levels was 48%. Lowered (< 3.5 g/dl) concentrations of serum albumin were found in the patients of cirrhosis and HCC (100%). Approximately 57% of patients with cirrhosis showed high levels of total bilirubin (>1 mg/dl). Elevated concentrations of serum glucose were related mostly to cirrhotic patients (42%), while increased α – Amylase level was found in different patient groups except FL. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the present study, the main biochemical responses in different stage of liver disease in HCV carriers can be summarized as (1)-Whereas elevated serum ALT is associated to the primary and progressed stages, elevated AST is linked to the progressive stage of the disease. (2)- lowered levels of serum albumin are closely linked to the progressive stages (cirrhosis and diabetic) of the disease. (3) elevated levels of bilirubin are likely related to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. (4)- Elevated levels of glucose are likely related to diabetic , cirrhotic and hepatocellular carcinoma stages. Periodic measurement of these physiological parameters may thus provide a simple method for predicting the progressive stages ( cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma) of liver disease in HCV carriers and may be also predict the susceptibility to diabetes mellitus.