P.051 Arterial Stiffness is Increased in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Seropositivity, But Not in Patients with Hepatitis B Virus Seropositivity and the Role of Leptin

Abstract

Background

Recent data suggest that chronic systemic inflammation and impaired levels of adipose tissue hormones play a critical role in cardiovascular disease. Aortic stiffness and wave reflections are independent markers of cardiovascular risk. The present study was undertaken to assess whether chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) and the secondary steatosis in HCV patients affect aortic stiffness and wave reflections.

Methods

We studied 36 patients (mean age: 49 ± 15yrs, 16M/20F) positive for HCV chronic infection and 28 patients (mean age: 56 ± 11yrs, 19M/9F) with HBV chronic infection, who had never been treated with interferon, and 40 control subjects matched for classical risk factors. Aortic stiffness was evaluated with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and wave reflections with augmentation index (AIx) of the aortic pressure waveform. Leptin levels were measured by ELISA kit.

Results

Patients with HCV infection had higher PWV than controls (7.6 ± 1.4 vs. 6.7 ± 1.3 m/s, P<0.05), while AIx did not differ (27.5 ± 15 vs. 27.1 ± 14%, P = NS). Carotid-femoral PWV and AIx in the subjects with HBV infection were similar to those in the control subjects. After adjustment for confounding factors, leptin levels (p<0.05, t=4.5, stand. coefficient = 1) were independently associated with an increase in PWV in patients with HCV.

Conclusions

Patients with HCV have impaired aortic elastic properties, whereas HBV does not influence aortic stiffness. These findings are important to further characterize the increase of cardiovascular risk in patients with hepatitis C virus seropositivity and to specify the linking role of the adipose tissue-related hormones.