الفهرس 
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Abstract
Egypt has possibly the highest HCV prevalence in the world; 10%–20% of the general populations are infected and HCV is the leading cause of chronic liver disease and Hepatocellular carcinoma.
Programmed cell death or apoptosis is an active form of cell death that is initiated by a number of stimuli. Apoptosis in both excessive and reduced amounts has pathophysiologic implications. Accelerated programmed cell death has been observed in leukocytes among patients with chronic hepatitis C and HCC.
The aim of this study is to characterize soluble fas in patients with chronic hepatitis C and to investigate whether it has a role in disease pathogenesis.
This study was conducted on fifty hepatic patients, thirty patients with chronic hepatitis C (cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic) and 20 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma compared with 20 normal persons as control group.
The present work showed the following:
• There was no statistically significant difference between the different groups as regard age and sex.
• The incidence of jaundice and ascites was higher among HCC patients than both HCV group and control and also was higher among HCV group than control group.
• Hemoglobin level and platelets count were significantly lower among HCC cases than HCV cases and controls, and also significantly lower among HCV than controls.
• There was statistically significant difference in all liver functions (AST, ALT, direct bilirubin, Total bilirubin and PT)
between HCC patients and control group and between HCV patients and control group.
• Soluble Fas was statistically significant higher in HCC and HCV in comparison to controls, however there was no significant difference between HCC and HCV patients.
• There was significant positive correlation between soluble Fas and AST, ALT, Total bilirubin and direct bilirubin while there was significant negative correlation between soluble Fas and Hemoglobin level, platelets count, serum albumin, prothrombine time and viral load (PCR).
• Soluble Fas at cut off 6581.12 could predict patients with HCV with 83.3% Sensitivity and 65% Specificity.
• Soluble Fas at cut off 6960.91 could predict patients with HCC with 85% Sensitivity and 30% Specificity.
• Soluble Fas at cut off 9125.99 could discriminate between cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic cases among HCV group with 80.0% sensitivity and 53.3% Specificity.