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).