Assay Value of Acid Mammalian Chitinase Activity in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients: Correlation with Non-invasive Markers of Hepatic Fibrosis.

Chronic hepatitis C virus run the risk of developing fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in later life. Aim: The aim is to assay acid mammalian chitinase (AMCase) activity in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients using a simple colorimetric technique and Correlate such activity with those of non-invasive markers of hepatic fibrosis. Methods: Blood samples were withdrawn to characterize viral infection, to estimate AMC activity, to count blood cells and to evaluate liver function tests. Beside, clinical investigation and transient elastography were done. Results: The mean acid mammalian chitinase activity was significantly elevated (P<0.03) when compared with that of the control group. Such activity was significantly and positively correlated with leukocytes counts. The activity was negatively correlated with AST/ALT score (r= - 0.25 and P<0.033). The activity gave an AUC of 0.69 with higher specificity (Sp= 86.7) and PPV value (94.3) when tested to differentiate patients from control individuals. Thus, it was significantly differentiate patients from healthy control. Also, AUC of the enzyme activity was higher than those of AST/ALT and Age /AST. Further, its PPV was higher than that of the former indicating its tendency to differentiate CHC
patients from healthy individuals. The lowering in its NPV may be due to the heterogeneity of liver pathology of CHC patients. In conclusion,
the assay of AMCase activity can add more to the assessment of liver disorders in CHC patients; especially if a larger number of patients and
detailed pathology of the liver is included in a latter study