Interplay between chronic hepatitis B and atherosclerosis: Innovative perspectives and theories

Elaboration of carotid atherosclerosis in the setting of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection should emphasize the significance of extrahepatic manifestations of the infection pathogenesis. Diverse processes comprise the pathoevolution of HBV infection, rendering it a multi-systemic disease in its essence. Our work not only exemplified atherosclerosis as an often-underestimated contributor to the severity of HBV infection but has also highlighted the bidirectional relationship between the two. Therefore, it is suggested that HBV-induced inflammation is one of the root causes of atherosclerosis, which in turn has a consequent effect on the severity of the chronic infection disease state, creating a vicious cycle. Additionally, we coupled prior data with the current concepts of HBV infection to postulate intriguing perspectives and theories.