Abstract
BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a worldwide concern, causing liver damage and necessitating early detection to prevent its spread. Studies indicate that evaluating changes in biochemical and hematological parameters, which serve as suitable predictors of inflammation, can be a reasonable method for diagnosing hepatitis C infection. METHODS: This study analyzed 100 samples from high-risk patients positively identified via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Anti-HCV titers, biochemical and inflammatory tests, and complete blood cell counts (CBCs) were performed for these individuals. Additionally, 100 HCV-negative individuals with normal laboratory results were selected as the control group. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to determine the cutoff values of the laboratory parameters. RESULTS: According to the findings, the age, average white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT), and ferritin levels were significantly higher in HCV patients. On the other hand, red blood cell (RBC) counts, neutrophils, lymphocytes, hemoglobin-to-platelet ratio (HPR), and iron (Fe) levels were significantly lower in the case group compared to those in the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the ROC curve analysis revealed that lymphocyte count, neutrophil count, and PLR were very strong predictors for hepatitis C infection (p < 0.0001, AUC = 1). CONCLUSION: The study highlights significant biochemical and hematological differences between HCV patients and healthy subjects. These biomarkers are crucial for early diagnosis, potentially preventing liver damage and reducing HCV transmission.