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A study of arteriosclerosis in healthy subjects with HBV and HCV infection

Makoto Moritani1, Kyoichi Adachi, Noriyuki Arima

  • 1Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shimane University, School of Medicine, 89-1 Enya-cho, Izumo 693-8501, Japan.

Journal of Gastroenterology
|December 3, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) infections do not appear to impact arteriosclerosis severity in healthy individuals. This study found no significant differences in cardiovascular markers between infected and non-infected subjects.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Hepatology

Background:

  • The relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and arteriosclerosis remains unclear.
  • Arteriosclerosis is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effect of HBV and HCV infection on the development of arteriosclerosis.
  • To compare cardiovascular parameters in individuals with and without HBV/HCV infection.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study of 1806 healthy individuals.
  • Assessment of serum lipid levels, blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, ankle-brachial index (ABI), heart-carotid pulse wave velocity (HCPWV), and heart-ankle PWV (HAPWV).
  • Analysis of covariance was used to adjust for confounding factors like age, sex, BMI, and lifestyle habits.

Main Results:

  • Adjusted serum lipid levels were lower in subjects with HBV and HCV infections compared to controls.
  • No significant differences were observed in adjusted arteriosclerotic parameters (ABI, HCPWV, HAPWV) between infected and control groups.
  • These findings held true even after adjusting for serum lipid levels.

Conclusions:

  • Hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection does not influence the severity of arteriosclerosis in healthy individuals.
  • The study suggests that HBV and HCV may not be direct contributors to arteriosclerosis in the absence of other risk factors.
Abstract

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