Detection of Caspase 3 Activity in Sera of Egyptian Patients with Chronic HCV and Normal ALT Level

The study aimed at detection of caspase 3 activity (one of apoptosis executioners) in sera of Egyptian patients with chronic HCV and persistently normal alanine transferase (PNALT) in comparison to patients with elevated ALT. It also aimed at assessment of histological activity in both groups and its correlation with caspase 3 activity. Patients and Methods: Study included 30 chronic HCV patients with PNALT and 10 with elevated ALT. Quantitative measurement of serum caspase 3 and liver biopsy was done. Results: 23.3% of PNALT patients showed significant inflammation (>!A2), whereas (90%) of chronic HCV patients with elevated ALT showed higher grade of histological activity (>!A2). 26.6% of PNALT patients showing more advanced fibrosis ( >—F2 METAVIR) with only one patient out of them showed evidence of frank cirrhosis (F4). Whereas (80%) of patients with elevated ALT showed significant fibrosis and (30%) showed frank cirrhosis. Caspase 3 activity was significantly correlated with serum ALT levels in both patients with PNALT and patients with elevated ALT. No statistically significant relation was found between serum caspase 3 activity and grade of histological activity or stage of fibrosis. Conclusion: Liver biopsy should be part of the evaluation of chronic HCV patients with PNALT. Caspase 3 activity in serum does not correlate with either grade of activity or stage of fibrosis in liver biopsy of chronic hepatitis C Egyptian patients.