الفهرس 
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Abstract
HCV infection is a major cause of chronic liver diseases, with an
estimated prevalence of HCV infection worldwide of 3% (>170 million
people). Egypt has possibly the highest HCV prevalence worldwide,
estimated among the general population to be around 14%. (Anwar et al.,
2008) Chronic HCV infection is characterized by inflammatory lesions in the
liver, often accompanied by steatohepatitis and progressive fibrosis of
variable degrees, and long-term progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular
carcinoma. (Bouchard and Navas-Martin, 2010)
Chronic HCV infection is a major risk factor for HCC development.
Indeed, each year, 4-5% of patients with chronic hepatitis C develop HCC.
Serological markers of HCV infection in patients with HCC range from 27%
up to 80%, and HCV infection increases the risk for HCC development by an
estimated 17-fold compared to healthy individuals. The molecular
mechanisms underlying HCC development remain ill-defined. (Bartosch et
ai.,2009.)