DETECTION OF STAT-1 IN BLOOD SPECIMENS OF INTERFERON RESISTANT HEPATITIS C PATIENTS.

Objective: To evaluate the expression of STAT-1 (Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription-1) in HCV patients non responder to interferon treatment. Study Design: Case control study. Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out at Army Medical College Rawalpindi from January to July, 2012. Patients and Methods: The study after approved by institute's ethics committee was conducted on 15 HCV infected patients who were non responder to interferon therapy and 5 controls responder to interferon therapy. Their age, sex, body mass index (BMI) and marital status was noted. PCR based detection of STAT-1 mRNA was carried out in blood of HCV infected patients resistant to interferon therapy as well as controls. Data was presented in the form of frequencies and percentages and p values were calculated using Fisher exact test and student t-test. Results: Results showed that more males were resistant to interferon therapy as compared tofemales. The mean age was less in responders as compared to non responders. Forty percent of the HCV infected patients non responder to interferon therapy were positive for STAT-1 expression. Conclusion: STAT-1 blood expression can predict treatment response in HCV patients undergoing interferon treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]