Background: chronic hepatitis C is a common condition. Transfusion of blood or blood-related products was one of the main routes of HCV transmission. Furthermore, nosocomial infections represent a key source of infection, particularly in some of the high-prevalence countries (such as Egypt, Pakistan and Eastern Europe). In general, prevalence increases with increasing age until peak prevalence at 55–64 years in most regions. At least six HCV genotypes are known, Genotype 4 frequency is the highest from Central Africa to the Middle East. Worldwide people infected with HCV are at an increased risk of developing serious hepatic complications including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Aim of the Work: the aim of this work is to study vitamin D level in post HCV liver cirrhosis patients before and six months after liver transplantation in addition to chronic HCV patients without cirrhosis.
Patients and Methods: this prospective case control study was conducted on 25 patients. 15 of them with liver cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C virus evaluated before and six months after liver transplantation in addition to 10 chronic HCV patients without cirrhosis as control group. Liver cirrhosis or transplantation patients were recruited from Ain Shams specialized hospital liver transplantation unit and chronic HCV patients without cirrhosis were recruited from hepatology outpatient clinic of Ain Shams university hospital in the period from February 2017 to November 2017. Symptoms suggestive of liver disease (e.g. jaundice, bleeding tendency, increased abdominal girth).
Results: this study was conducted on 25 patients. 15 of them with liver cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C virus evaluated before and six months after liver transplantation in addition to 10 chronic HCV patients without cirrhosis as control group. Group I: Consists of 15 (60%) patients with post HCV liver cirrhosis before liver transplantation. They were 13 males (86.6%) & 2 females (13.3%). Their mean age was 50.53 ± 4.52. Group IΙ: Consists of the same patients of group I evaluated six months post liver transplantation. Group III: Consists of 10 (40%) patients with chronic HCV without cirrhosis. They were 6 males (60%) & 4 females (40%). Their mean age was 53.0 ± 8.46.
Conclusion: this study concluded that vitamin D deficiency is prevalent among patients with liver cirrhosis. Liver transplantation improves vitamin D level but not to the recommended normal level i.e. vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency can persist after transplantation.