Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) lifecycle is closely connected to host cell lipid metabolism, from cell entry, through viral RNA replication to viral particle production and formation/assembly.
Objective: To determine the serum levels of ox-LDL, total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase, and evaluate their role in HCV hepatitis patients. In addition, the effect of direct-acting antiviral therapy on their levels was evaluated.
Patients and Methods: This study included forty chronic hepatitis C (genotype 4) patients. Blood samples were taken from the patients before and after taking sofosbuvir (400 mg) and daclatsvir 60 mg; one time daily orally for 24 weeks. Forty apparently healthy personnel were used as control group.
Results: Serum TAC in chronic HCV hepatitis patients were significantly low before treatment as compared to the control group. Serum levels of ox-LDL were significantly high in patients before treatment and after treatment as compared to control group. Antioxidants supplementations and direct antiviral drugs did not affect the levels of ox-LDL significantly. Serum levels of extracellular SOD were significantly higher in control group, than levels in HCV patients before treatment and after treatment. Treatment did not restore the levels of serum SOD in patients. Direct-acting antiviral agents had a sustained virological response in the chosen group of patients.
Conclusions: Direct-acting antiviral agents did not normalize serum levels of ox-LDL and extracellular SOD. In addition, the currently used antioxidants did not decrease the oxidative changes in LDL.