El Sagheer GM, et al. – Given that fibroblast growth factor (FGF)21 has been reported to be induced by different injurious agents—including chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus—affecting the liver, researchers assessed FGF21 levels in patients with CHC pre- and post-treatment with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) compared with control participants. They also correlated these levels with insulin resistance (IR), lipid profile, and fibrosis stages. Patients were divided into five groups based on fibrosis severity: F0, n=2; F1, n=13; F2, n=23; F3, n=16; F4, n=21. In addition to its metabolic modulator role, findings indicated a strong role of FGF21 as a novel biomarker of hepatic injury in Egyptian, genotype-4, patients with CHC.