A DGReview of :"Association between hepatitis C virus core protein and carotid atherosclerosis."
Circulation Journal

01/16/2003
By Anne MacLennan

Hepatitis C virus core protein positivity is an independent predictor of carotid plaque, researchers in Japan have found.

This finding strengthens the possibility persistent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and carotid atherosclerosis (CA) are linked in patients without severe liver dysfunction, says this report from the Center for Multiphasic Health Testing and Services, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Tokyo.

That there is an association between certain infectious microorganisms and increased risk of atherosclerotic disease has already been suggested. Moreover, an earlier study of subjects who had undergone general health-screening tests reported a possible link between CA and seropositivity of antibody against HCV.

In this current study, and because it is postulated to be a better marker of viremia and thus persistent infection, researchers assessed the association between CA and HCV core protein positivity.

Dr Y Ishizaka and colleagues reviewed 1,992 subjects. Of these, 496 (25% had carotid artery plaque, and 25 (1.3%) were positive for HCV core protein.

Carotid artery plaque was positive in 480 of 1,967 (24%) of the core protein-negative subjects and in 16 of 25 (64%) of the core protein-positive subjects (p<0.0001 by chi(2) test).

Although serum concentrations of transaminases were higher in core protein-positive subjects, albumin concentrations were not significantly different between the two groups.

Further analysis (multivariate logistic regression) indicated HCV core protein positivity is an independent predictor of carotid plaque, with an odds ratio of 5.61 (95% confidence interval 2.06-15.26, p<0.001).

The findings thus support a possible association between persistent HCV infection and CA in patients without severe liver dysfunction, these authors conclude.
Circ J 2003 Jan;67(1):26-30. "Association between hepatitis C virus core protein and carotid atherosclerosis."

HCV, Interferon and The Heart

Hepatitis C virus infection and cardiomyopathy

AUTHOR: Matsumori A, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.; SOURCE: Nippon Rinsho 1999 Feb;57(2):455-63

The importance of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been recently noted in patients with cardiomyopathies. HCV RNAs were found in the hearts of patients with cardiomyopathies, and negative strands of HCV RNA were also detected in the hearts, suggesting that HCV replicates in myocardial tissues. In a collaborative research project of the Committees for the Study of Idiopathic Cardiomyopathy, HCV antibody was more frequently found in patients with cardiomyopathies than that found in volunteer blood donors in Japan. HCV antibody was detected in 5.4% seeking care in 5 academic hospitals. Various cardiac abnormalities were found, and arrhythmias was the most frequent. These observations suggest that HCV infection is an important cause of a variety of otherwise unexplained heart diseases. It is likely that antiviral agents such as interferons and ribavirin will be valuable in the treatment of cardiomyopathy due to HCV infection.

Changes of 24-h Holter monitor recordings in association with interferon alpha therapy for chronic hepatitis C

Nippon Shokakibyo Gakkai Zasshi 1998 Nov;95(11):1222-8 Masutani M, Suzuki J, Matsuda T, Takahashi K, Ohira K, Nomura A, Douchin A, Sadaoka K, Kawakami Y, Miura A
First Department of Medicine, Hokkaido University, School of Medicine.

We examined cardiovascular complication of interferon (IFN) therapy in 23 patients with chronic hepatitis C who did not have cardiac disease prospectively. Twenty four-h Holter monitor recordings were performed before and during IFN therapy. Seven of these patients (30%) showed abnormalities on their 24-h Holter monitoring recordings. Premature ventricular contraction (PVC) occured in two patients, intermittent WPW syndrome in one, and ST-T change in four. Only one patient with PVC complained of palpitation. These complications were not severe and immediately after IFN therapy was stopped. There was no correlation between Holter ECG abnormalities and sex, age, quantity of HCV, or 2-5 oligoadenylate synthetase activity. It was suggested that cardiovascular complications caused by IFN therapy occurred more frequently than expected. However, diagnosis of these complications is difficult because most patients have no subjective symptoms and there is scarcely any change in laboratory test results. Careful observation of patients may be required during IFN therapy regardless of cardiovascular symptoms.

PMID: 9852725, UI: 99069827