title: Serum cystatin C correlates negatively with viral load in treatment-naïve children with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a serious health problem that causes chronic infection in up to 85% of cases. HCV nonstructural (NS) cysteine protease, NS2/3, is required for viral replication in vivo. Cystatin C is a naturally occurring cysteine protease inhibitor in human cells. We aimed to investigate the relation between serum levels of cystatin C and HCV viremia in treatment-naïve children with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum cystatin C levels were measured in 27 children with chronic hepatitis C and determined their relation with liver functions, histopathological parameters, and hepatitis C viral load. Serum cystatin C was compared with that of 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cystatin C was significantly higher in patients than in controls (1.4 ± 0.47 vs 0.99 ± 0.49; P = 0.006), and in those with low viremia than in those with moderate viremia (1.55 ± 0.41 vs 0.99 ± 0.43; P = 0.013). Cystatin C was not correlated with histopathological findings in liver biopsy (P > 0.05 for all). In addition, there was no significant difference of cystatin C levels in patients with normal versus those with elevated transaminases (P > 0.05). Of importance, cystatin C correlated negatively with viral load (P < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cystatin C levels correlated negatively with HCV viremia. This finding may reflect an inhibitory effect of cystatin C on HCV replication through inhibiting its NS2/3 and tempting for further studies for cystatin C as a possible adjuvant therapy for HCV infection.
authors: Department of Pediatric Hepatology, Menofiya University, Shebin El-koom, Menofiya, Egypt.
authors: Behairy E
authors: BE
authors: Behairy
authors: Magdy A
authors: MA
authors: Saber
authors: Ibrahim A
authors: IA
authors: Elhenawy
authors: Sahar S
authors: SS
authors: Abou-Zeinah
authors: Ahmed A
authors: AA
authors: El-Sharawy
authors: Mostafa M
authors: MM
authors: Sira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D055316:Cystatin C / Q000097:blood*; D057056:Cysteine Proteases / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D055316:Cystatin C; D000637:Transaminases; D057056:Cysteine Proteases