INTRODUCTION: Studying the predictors of SVR to pegylated interferon (PEG-INF) alfa-2a and ribavirin (RBV) therapy in chronic HCV infected patients is crucial for selecting those who would benefit most from therapy. Increased HPCs in HCV-infected patients were shown to be correlated with increasing fibrosis and response to treatment. HPCs could be detected in the liver by immunohistochemical expressions of cytokeratin ... Read more