title: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein is associated with viral load and disease activity in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mechanisms of liver injury in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are poorly understood. Recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress and lipid-peroxidation play a major role. The purpose of this study was to determine the serum level of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), and evaluate its association with different clinically valuable parameters of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five untreated chronic hepatitis C patients and 45 healthy adult volunteers, matched for age, sex and BMI, were enrolled. Blood samples were collected after 12 h of fasting, and serum bilirubin, albumin, liver aminotransferases, lipid profile, prothrombin time and ox-LDL were measured. Viral load of HCV was determined in patients. Liver biopsy was performed in patients and the stage of fibrosis and grade of necroinflammatory activity were determined. Healthy controls did not undergo liver biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ox-LDL was significantly higher in HCV patients (42.54 ± 3.82 vs. 30.98 ± 1.66 μ/l, P < 0.01). Ox-LDL was significantly correlated to viral load (r = 0.457, P < 0.01), and grade of inflammation (r = 0.293, P < 0.05) in HCV patients. Ox-LDL was significantly higher in cirrhotic vs. noncirrhotic patients. No significant association was found between ox-LDL and Child-Pugh classification, serum albumin, liver enzymes, or prothrombin time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provided new data from an in vivo setting which suggests the contribution of ox-LDL to HCV pathogenesis. Our results encourage further clinical studies to evaluate the potential diagnostic and therapeutic implications of ox-LDL in HCV patients.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center (EMRC), Vali-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 13145-784, Tehran, Iran. nakhjavanim@tums.ac.ir
authors.forename: Manouchehr
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakhjavani
authors.forename: Arshideh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mashayekh
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Khalilzadeh
authors.forename: Firouzeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Asgarani
authors.forename: Afsaneh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morteza
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Omidi
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Froutan
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein