CORRELATION BETWEEN VITAMIN D LEVEL AND RESPONSE TO THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C VIRAL INFECTION.

Objective:- This study aims to evaluate the relation between vitamin D level in chronic hepatitis C patients and the response to antiviral therapy. Methods:- We examined 60 patients with chronic hepatitis C.Their vitamin D levels were compared with 25 healthy controls.The patients were treated with (pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin plus Sofosbuvir in weight-based doses(triple therapy) for 12 weeks. The 25(OH)D serum levels were measured using 25(OH) Vitamin D ELISA Kit. Results:- There was a highly significant difference of vitamin D level between patients and controi group (17.9±29.8ng ml for patients versus 43.2±11.9ng ml for control group),and all patients showed complete cure at end of treatment (no viremia detected at 12 weeks of treatment) regardless of vitamin D level. Conclusion:- This study revealed that chronic hepatitis C patients have low vitamin D level and respond well to antiviral treatment including the new DAA(Sofosbuvir) So vitamin D level is an independent factor not corresponding to the level of the virological response to antiviral therapy.