Laboratory Tests
Fasting blood specimens were taken into serum gel tubes via venipuncture
from each participant, and afterwards centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 10
min. Separated serums were aliquoted and kept at −80°C until DTDH, TAS,
and TOS measurements were performed.
Complete blood counts were determined using an Alinity hq hematology
analyzer (Abbott Diagnostics, Santa Clara, CA, USA). The levels of
clinical chemistry parameters (serum albumin, alanine aminotransferase
(ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase
(GGT), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, total protein, urea, and
creatinine) were determined using an Architect c16000 analyzer (Abbott
Diagnostics, Abbott Park, IL, USA) with standard methods. Prothrombin
time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) values were
determined using a Sysmex CS-2100i coagulation analyzer (Sysmex Corp.,
Kobe, Japan). Viral markers were measured using the chemiluminescent
microparticle immunoassay method in an Architect i2000 SR analyzer
(Abbott Laboratories, Lake Bluff, IL, USA). Serum HCVRNA levels and HCV
genotypes were determined using the Abbott RealTime HCV quantification,
Abbott RealTimeHCV Genotype II kits, and Abbott m2000 RealTime
polymerase chain reaction system (Abbott Laboratories, Lake Bluff, IL,
USA).