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Volume 6, Issue 7(Suppl) J Gastrointest Dig Syst 2016
ISSN: 2161-069X JGDS, an open access journal
Page 44
Notes:
Gastro Congress 2016
October 24-25, 2016
conferenceseries.com
October 24-25, 2016 Valencia, Spain
9th Euro Global
Gastroenterology Conference
Effect of antiviral therapy on serum activity of angiotensin converting enzyme in patients with
chronic hepatitis C
Azra Husic-Selimovic
University Clinical Center Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Introduction: Renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is frequently activated in patients with chronic liver disease. Angiotensin-II
(AT-II), produced by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), has many physiological effects, including an important role in
liver fibrogenesis. Combined antiviral therapy with PEG-IFN and ribavirin besides its antiviral effect also leads to a reduction
in liver parenchyma fibrosis.
Aim: Determining the value of ACE in serum of patients with chronic hepatitis C before and after combined antiviral therapy,
as well as the value of ACE activities in sera of the control group.
Materials &Methods: We studied 50 patients treated at Gastroenterohepatology Department, in the time-period of four years.
Value of ACE in serum was determined by Olympus AU 400 device with application of kit “Infinity TN ACE Liquid Stable
Reagent”. HCV RNA levels in sera were measured by real time PCR. HCV RNA test was performed with modular analysis of
AMPLICOR and COBAS AMPLICOR HCV MONITOR test v2.0, which has proved infection and was used for quantification
of the viruses and monitoring of the patients’ response to therapy. Liver histology was evaluated in accordance with the level of
necroinflammation activity and stage of fibrosis.
Results: Serum activities of ACE in chronic hepatitis C patients is statistically higher than the values in the control group
(p=0.02). Antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients statistically decreases serum activities of ACE (p=0.02) and indirectly
affects fibrogenesis of the liver parenchyma. Correlation between ACE and ALT activity after the therapy was proved (0.3934).
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the activity of ACE in serum is a good indirect parameter of the liver damage and
could be used as an indirect prognostic factor of the level of liver parenchyma damage. Serum activity of ACE can be used as a
parameter for non-invasive assessment of intensity of liver damage.
Biography
Azra Husic-Selimovic is an Associated Professor Chair of Internal Medicine, Medical Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Sub-specialist
in Gastroenterology and Hepatology from 2010. She received Doctor of Medical Science with research interest in Hepatology and Viral Hepatitis. She obtained
Master of Science in Medicine with scientific area: Hepatology and Alcoholic Liver Disease.
Azra Husic-Selimovic, J Gastrointest Dig Syst 2016, 6:7(Suppl)