Hepatitis C virus infection and heart diseases: a multicenter study in Japan

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Development of a Hepatitis B Virus Reporter System to Monitor the Early Stages of the Replication Cycle

Published on: February 1, 2017

A Matsumori1, N Ohashi, K Hasegawa

  • 1Kyoto University, Japan.

Japanese Circulation Journal
|June 17, 1998
PubMed

Insights

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is linked to heart conditions like hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathy. This study found a higher prevalence of HCV antibodies in patients with these cardiomyopathies compared to blood donors, suggesting HCV as a cause of heart disease.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Background:

  • Idiopathic cardiomyopathies represent a significant clinical challenge.
  • The potential role of viral infections, particularly hepatitis C virus (HCV), in the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathies requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the development of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
  • To determine the prevalence of HCV infection in patients diagnosed with cardiomyopathies in Japan.

Main Methods:

  • A collaborative research project involving 19 medical institutions in Japan.
  • Questionnaires were distributed to patients with idiopathic cardiomyopathies.
  • Hepatitis C virus antibody testing was performed on patient samples.
  • Prevalence data were compared with those of volunteer blood donors and patients seeking care in academic hospitals.

Main Results:

  • HCV antibodies were detected in 10.6% of HCM patients and 6.3% of DCM patients, significantly higher than the 2.4% in blood donors (p<0.0001).
  • The prevalence of HCV antibodies was significantly higher in HCM patients compared to DCM patients (p<0.01).
  • Overall, 5.4% of patients seeking care in academic hospitals tested positive for HCV antibodies, with arrhythmias being the most common cardiac abnormality.

Conclusions:

  • Hepatitis C virus infection is a significant contributing factor to various unexplained heart diseases, including hypertrophic and dilated cardiomyopathies.
  • These findings underscore the importance of screening for HCV in patients presenting with cardiomyopathies, especially in regions with high HCV prevalence.

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