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Abstract |
Frequency of FOXP3+ Regulatory T-cells in the Blood of Chronic Hepatitis C Patients with Immune Mediated Skin Manifestations; Relationship to Hepatic Condition and Viral Load |
Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection causes a wide range of immune mediated hepatic and extrahepatic manifestations. Cutaneous manifestations constitute a major portion of the latter group. Host immune response to the virus - particularly regulatory T lymphocytes - is important in determining the outcome of the infection and the possibility of extrahepatic manifestations. The present study aims to investigate the relationship between immune-mediated cutaneous manifestations of CHC infection and the frequency of CD4+CD25 high FOXP3+ T regulatory lymphocytes. We also investigated the relationships to viral load and hepatic conditions. |