Prognostic Value of Serum Retinoic Acid Receptor Responder Protein 2 (RARRES2) in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients

Abstract Background: Adipocytokines play an important role in the development of metabolic abnormality and fibrogenesis in Chronic Hepatitis C virus (CHC) infection. The prognosis of CHC is still ill-defined. Liver biopsy for staging liver injury comprises variable risks. Many biochemical markers that mirror liver injury progression have been suggested. Aim of Study: The aim of this work is to measure the levels of serum Retinoic Acid Receptor Responder Protein 2 (RARRES2) and leptin in normal weight female CHC patients, as well as to study the correlation between these cytokines and the markers of liver damage, to assess the prognosis of chronic hepatitis C. Subjects and Methods: This study included 100 normal weight (BMI <25) female subjects; 50 patients of CHC, aged (43.50±6.31), and 50 healthy controls, aged (44.32±5.10). CHC was confirmed by the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Laboratory investigations included albumin, bilirubin, pro-thrombin time (the Child Pugh score), fasting glucose, fasting insulin, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), alanine aminotrans-ferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), AST/ALT and Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) activities along with serum RARRES2, leptin and alpha-fetoprotein. Results: Serum RARRES2, leptin, total bilirubin, pro-thrombin time (INR), ALT and AST activities were significantly higher, and albumin was significantly lower in the normal weight female CHC patients compared to the control. A significant negative correlation between each of RARRES2 and leptin with albumin; and a significant positive correlation between RARRES2 and INR; indicate that these adipokines increase as liver function worsens. Conclusion: The serum levels of RARRES2 and leptin may be considered additional non-invasive markers of prog-nostic significance in CHC patients.