title: The increased ratio of CD4+/CD8+ was positively correlated with inflammation in hepatitis C patients with metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The incidence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in hepatitis C patients in Taiwan is not well known. Although the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocytes is considered to possibly affect the pathogenesis of hepatitis C, the effects of MS on CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocytes remain unknown. The aims of this study to assess (1) the incidence of MS, (2) the inflammation status and fatty changes of liver, and (3) changes in their CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-lymphocyte ratio in patients with hepatitis C.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 hepatitis C patients were classified into MS or non-MS group. The terms of anthropometric data, MS components, and T-lymphocytes were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of hepatitis C patients suffering from MS was 26.7% in this study. The CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-lymphocyte ratios were higher in patients with MS than non-MS group. Hepatitis C patients with MS also had higher levels of ferritin than non-MS. Moreover, the level of ferritin positively correlated with the severity of fatty liver. The CD4(+)/CD8(+) T-lymphocyte ratio is also positively correlated with ferritin level and the severity of fatty liver.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hepatitis C patients with MS had higher ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) T lymphocyte, which is associated with a high inflammatory response and a fatty change of liver.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition & Institute of BioMedical Nutrition, Hungkuang University, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ya-Ling
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Chia-Ju
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Wang-Sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ko
mesh_terms: D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins