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- Title
Association Between Hepatitis C Virus Seropositivity and Carotid Atherosclerosis.
- Authors
Shaaban, Ghada; Ashmawy, Medhat; Elgendy, Ehab; Badr, Seham; Elasfar, Abdelfatah
- Abstract
Background Infective agents can accelerate several key steps in the plaque formation, including potentiation of inflammatory processes and promoting endothelial dysfunction. Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with vaculities and mixed cryoglobulinemia. We aimed to investigate the relation between seropositivity of HCV infection and the prevalence of carotid artery plaque and increased carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Methods Forty HCV seropositive patients were compared with 40 HCV seronegative subjects regarding common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCAIMT) and prevalence of internal carotid artery (ICA) plaque. Results HCV seropositive patients had significantly higher IMT values than seronegative subjects (1.11±0.33mm vs. 0.70±0.10mm, p= 0.001) in the right CCA, and (1.05±0.26mm vs. 0.71±0.20mm p= 0.001,) in the left CCA. ICA plaque prevalence in HCV seropositive group was significantly higher than seronegative one. There were 8 patients (20%) with left ICA plaque, and 5 patients (12.5%) with right ICA plaque in HCV seropositive group vs. one patient (2.5%) in left ICA and 2 patients (5.0%) in right ICA in HCV seronegative group (p= 0.016). There was a higher significant incidence of ICA plaque in PCR positive subgroup than PCR negative one. Among the 30 PCR positive patients, there were 8(26.7%) with left ICA plaque, 5(16.7%) with right ICA, compared to the 10 PCR negative patients who had no plaque (P= 0.001). Conclusions HCV seropositivity can be an independent risk factor for asymptomatic carotid artery plaques and carotid intima-media thickening. Our results support a possible link between persistent HCV infection and carotid atherosclerosis.
- Subjects
HEPATITIS C virus; ATHEROSCLEROTIC plaque; ATHEROSCLEROSIS; CRYOGLOBULINEMIA; CAROTID artery diseases; DISEASE incidence
- Publication
Heart Mirror Journal, 2013, Vol 7, Issue 2, p107
- ISSN
1687-6652
- Publication type
Article