Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 27, 2026

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA
04:11

Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction-Based Detection and Quantification of Hepatitis B Virus DNA

Published on: December 15, 2023

Hepatitis C virus seropositivity, but not hepatitis B virus carrier or seropositivity, associated with increased

Hirofumi Tomiyama1, Tomio Arai, Ken-ichi Hirose

  • 1Second Department of Internal Medicine, Tokyo Medical University, 6-7-1 Nishi-shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan. tomiyama@tokyo-med.ac.jp

Atherosclerosis
|January 22, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus seropositivity is linked to higher pulse wave velocity (PWV), a marker of arterial stiffness. This association persists independently of common atherosclerotic risk factors, suggesting a potential role for HCV in cardiovascular health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Science
  • Infectious Disease Immunology

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis pathogenesis involves immune mechanisms.
  • Arterial stiffness, measured by pulse wave velocity (PWV), is a key indicator of cardiovascular risk.
  • The relationship between viral hepatitis and atherosclerosis is an area of ongoing research.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between seropositivity for hepatitis C virus (HCV) or hepatitis B virus (HBV) and PWV.
  • To determine if viral hepatitis status independently predicts arterial stiffness.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study of 7514 subjects.
  • Measurement of pulse wave velocity (PWV).
  • Assessed plasma levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen/antibody and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody.

Main Results:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositivity was significantly associated with increased PWV.
  • This association remained significant after adjusting for traditional atherosclerotic risk factors.
  • No significant association was found between hepatitis B virus (HBV) seropositivity and PWV.

Conclusions:

  • Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is independently associated with elevated pulse wave velocity (PWV).
  • HCV seropositivity may contribute to arterial stiffness and cardiovascular risk.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms linking HCV to atherosclerosis.

More Related Videos

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness05:51

Measuring the Carotid to Femoral Pulse Wave Velocity (Cf-PWV) to Evaluate Arterial Stiffness

Published on: May 3, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Hepatitis01:25

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver most commonly caused by hepatotropic viruses (A–E), though non-infectious causes such as alcohol and drugs also exist.Hepatitis AHepatitis A virus (HAV) is a non-enveloped RNA virus of the Picornaviridae family. It is primarily transmitted via the fecal-oral route, typically through ingestion of contaminated food or water. After ingestion, HAV enters the bloodstream through the oropharynx or intestinal epithelium and reaches the liver. The...
Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction01:28

Viral Hepatitis I: Introduction

Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory condition of the liver caused by infection with hepatotropic viruses, most commonly hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E. Despite variations in structure and transmission, all viruses mentioned infect hepatocytes and provoke immune responses that can hinder liver function. Additionally, some non-hepatotropic viruses can also lead to hepatic inflammation.Hepatitis A VirusHepatitis A virus (HAV) is transmitted through the fecal–oral route, typically by ingestion of food...
Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers01:19

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers

Cardiac biomarkers are critical in diagnosing, prognosing, and managing cardiovascular diseases. Routine measurement of specific biomarkers such as B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (Hcy) is common practice in clinical settings to evaluate heart function and predict cardiovascular events.
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology01:24

Cirrhosis II: Pathophysiology

Cirrhosis is a progressive chronic liver injury caused by prolonged inflammation, excessive fibrotic remodeling, and impaired regeneration. Over time, repeated hepatic insults disrupt the liver’s architecture and function, leading to reduced blood flow, impaired bile drainage, and diminished metabolic capacity.Pathophysiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis arises from three main responses to chronic liver damage: inflammation, immune activation, and hepatocyte death. These processes lead to structural...
Portal Hypertension01:22

Portal Hypertension

Portal hypertension is an increase in blood pressure within the portal venous system. Normally, this pressure is less than 5 mmHg. It is considered clinically significant when it rises above 10 mmHg. At this threshold, complications from altered blood flow and venous congestion emerge.EtiologyPortal hypertension arises from conditions that impede blood flow through the liver. The most common cause is cirrhosis, in which chronic liver injury leads to fibrotic scarring. This fibrosis narrows or...