الفهرس 
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Abstract
Hepatitis C virus infection is a major global health problem (Agbola, 1999). It affects approximately 1% of the world’s people (!’haler, 1997). Hepatitis virus infection is hyperendemic in Egypt (Hibbs et al., 1993), where it competes with schistosomiasis as a leading cause of chronic liver disease (Darwish eta/., 1993).
Reactive oxygen metabolites play a complex role in many diseases and in metabolic regulation. Because viruses replicate in living cells, such metabolites influence the growth of viruses (Peterhans, 1997). Bianchi eta/. (1997) found that there was an oxidative stress in cirrhotic patients.
The aim of this study was to assess the status of oxygen free radicals in hepatitis C virus-related liver diseases by estimating the level of activity of superoxide dismutase (S.O.D.). A trial was made to analyze the impact of these radicals on the activity of the disease as well as on the histopathological features.
Sixty patients with hepatitis C virus-related liver diseases were included in this study. Their mean age was 45.8±5.5 (range between 34 & 56 years). 50% were females and 50% were males. In addition; 20 healthy persons accepted to share in this study as a control group. Liver biopsy for patients only was done to confirm the diagnosis and the Histological Activity Index (H.A.I). [knodell score] was used for classification of patients with chronic HCV.