Biliverdin Reductase A in Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection

1. To analyze biliverdin reductase (BLVRA) expression in the liver of HVC infected patients undergoing liver biopsy followed by standard antiviral treatment (peg-interferon plus ribavirin combination therapy) and patients with other forms of liver diseases undergoing liver biopsy as controls. 2. To analyze BLVRA expression in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) of therapeutically naïve HCV patients, during/after standard antiviral therapy and healthy controls. 3. To analyze BVLRA genetic polymorphisms both in HCV infected patients and healthy controls.