Effect of interferon alpha2b plus ribavirin treatment on selected growth factors in respect to inflammation and fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C

Table 5 Correlation of GF in the course of IFNα2b with RBV therapy with grade activity of inflammation and fibrosis in the liver in responders (R) and non-responders (NR). Histological classification according to Scheuer[13].

Growth factor		Inflammation activity, grading		Fibrosis hepatitis,staging
		Periportal	Intralobular
HGF	R	NR	r = 0.4, P<0.05	r = 0.5, P<0.05
	NS	NS	r = 0.5, P<0.03	r = 0.4, P<0.03
EGF	R	r=–0.6, P<0.003	r = –0.5, P<0.01	NS
	NR	NS	NS	NS
TPO	R	r=0.5, P<0.01	r = 0.6, P<0.004	r = 0.5, P<0.01
	NR	NS	NS	r = 0.4, P<0.04
PDGF	R	r=–0.5, P<0.01	r = –0.5, P<0.02	NS
	NR	NS	NS	NS

r - statistical correlation, Spearman’s non-parametrical test, P<0.05 statistically significant, NS – no statistical significance.