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Effects of chronic hepatitis C infection on arterial stiffness

Chang-Hua Chou1, Chin-Shan Ho2, Wei-Chuan Tsai3

  • 1Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tainan Sinlau Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan.

Journal of the American Society of Hypertension : JASH
|September 20, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is linked to increased arterial stiffness, independent of metabolic factors. This finding highlights a potential cardiovascular risk in HCV patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Hepatology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is known to increase arterial stiffness.
  • Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with metabolic disorders and inflammation, but its impact on arterial stiffness is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between chronic HCV infection and arterial stiffness.
  • To compare arterial stiffness in patients with HCV, NAFLD, and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

  • A study involving 221 participants: 32 normal controls, 72 NAFLD patients, and 117 HCV patients.
  • Arterial stiffness assessed using peripheral arterial stiffness index (Compliance Index, CI) and central arterial stiffness index (Stiffness Index) via photoplethysmography.
  • Oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were measured.

Main Results:

  • The HCV group exhibited significantly lower CI and higher Stiffness Index compared to normal controls and NAFLD groups (P < .001 and P = .001, respectively).
  • Multivariate analysis revealed that CI was independently correlated with systolic blood pressure and HCV infection (P = .013 and P = .036, respectively).
  • Peripheral arterial stiffness in chronic HCV infection was not associated with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein.

Conclusions:

  • Chronic HCV infection is independently associated with peripheral arterial stiffness.
  • Arterial stiffness in HCV patients may not be solely explained by general inflammation markers like hs-CRP.
  • Further research into specific inflammatory pathways in HCV-related arterial stiffness is warranted.

Keywords:
Arterial stiffnesshepatitis Cinflammationnonalcoholic fatty liver disease

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