Comparison of Selenium Levels in HCV- Infected Patients at Different Stages of Disease
Condition: Hepatitis C; Liver Cirrhosis; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
MeSH terms: Hepatitis C; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Liver Cirrhosis
Study type: Observational

Summary: 
      The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising worldwide.One important etiology is
      a chronic inflammation due to hepatitis c (hcv) infection. Over the steps of a chronic
      inflammation over the stadium of cirrhosis of the liver it is possible that neoplastic
      nodules appear in the liver which can rise up to a HCC. In the pathogenesis of HCC oxidative
      stress seems to play an important role and as selenium is a key micronutrient in this process
      its levels could differ between the different stages of disease in hcv- infected patients.
      The aim of this trial is to examine these differences.
    

Detailed description: 
      The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising worldwide. Almost all cases of HCC
      develop over clearly defined stages of chronic hepatic inflammation and cirrhosis of the
      liver which can be determined as an irreversible stage during this process. In the Western
      world excessive alcohol consumption and chronic infection with the hepatitis c virus (hcv)
      are frequent causes of chronic hepatocellular injury. As HCC is often diagnosed at advanced
      stages and therapeutic intervention possibilities are limited it becomes more and more
      necessary to search for prevention strategies to stop the development of HCC.

      In the last years micronutrients such as selenium have reached the interests of oncologists.
      Several studies were able to show that there are often low selenium levels in patients with
      different tumors. Some epidemiologic studies showed that supplementation of selenium can
      decrease the incidence of some tumors.

      Oxidative stress is meant to play an essential role in hepatocarcinogenesis and as selenium
      could decrease it, it may be possible that patients infected with the hepatitis c - virus
      show low selenium levels probably as a result of the chronic hepatic inflammation. Moreover
      there may be differences between the stages of disease namely chronic infection, cirrhosis of
      the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. The aim of this trial is to determine these
      differences.

      HCV- infected patients are enrolled in this trial. Three groups are formed: In Group 1 all
      HCV- infected patients with a chronic inflammation without cirrhosis of the liver and without
      HCC are summarized. in group 2 all HCV- infected patients with cirrhosis of the liver but
      without HCC are enrolled. In group 3 hcv- infected HCC- patients are summarized. In each
      group 10 patients should be enrolled, matched to age and other diseases. Blood samples are
      taken from these patients and selenium levels are measured.
    

Observational model: Case-Control
Time perspective: Prospective
Sampling method: Non-Probability Sample
Study population: 
        Whole blood samples are taken from inpatients and outpatients of our primary care clinic
      
Biospecimen description: 
      whole blood
    
Keywords: selenium level measurement