Research News - New compounds show promise against hepatitis C infection

[moleculardude]

Research News - New compounds show promise against hepatitis C infection

Approximately 270-300 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C, and about 1%-2% of the U.S. population is infected. This infectious disease can lead to scarring of the liver, cirrhosis, and eventually liver failure. A significant numb...

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04-21-2011 02:47 AM

[Zagami]

The bioflavonoids, quercetin, catechin and naringenin, for they antiviral activity are the future for nontoxic treatment for to attenuate Hepatitis C virus production. Whereas to monitor viral growth is determination of the serum number of viral genome copies, for to evaluate degree fibrosis the gold standard is liver biopsy that is done for various reasons : a) To determine the prognosis of chronic liver disease; b) To select patients for specific treatment; c) To monitor the success of treatment; d) Evaluate, together serum α-fetoprotein, development of liver cancer. Considered advantages and disadvantages of the liver biopsy (pain, bleeding, biliary peritonitis, pneumothorax, death, blood clotting disorders [coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia] and ascites) there is a lot interest for development of non-invasive testing such as “Hepascore” to determine the degree of hepatic fibrosis.
The Hepascore model was computed from the results obtained for the following 4 biochemical markers: total bilirubin, GGT, A2M, and HA along with age and sex.
The Hepascore is derived by using 2 equations :
I. Logistic regression model :
y = exp[-4.185818-(0.0249 x age)+(0.7464 x sex)+(1.0039 x A2M)+(0.0302 X HA)+(0.0691 x bilirubin)-(0.0012 x GGT)]
With age provided in years, male sex = 1, female sex = 0, A2M in g/L, HA in µg/L, bilirubin in µmol/L, and GGT in U/L.
II. Hepascore calculation : HS = y/1 + y
A hepascore value ≥ 0.50 indicates significant liver fibrosis , whereas if the result is <0.50 significant fibrosis is absent. If the value is ≥ 0.84, cirrhosis of the liver is likely present and if the value is < 0.84 cirrhosis is absent. In HCV infection, treatment is generally recommended when significant fibrosis is present, patients with a Hepascore 0.5 may be considered for antiviral therapy without the requirement for liver biopsy. In addition, the exclusion of advanced fibrosis among patients who have a Hepascore 0.5 may be particularly useful in providing prognostic information for patients who are reluctant to undergo biopsy or among elderly patients who are unlikely to develop liver-related morbidity or mortality in the absence of advanced fibrosis. Finally, a score 0.84 is 84%–89% specific for the presence of cirrhosis.