Higher serum testosterone increases the risk of HCV–related liver disease

Higher serum testosterone increases the risk of HCV–related liver disease
Source:GastroHep

Higher serum testosterone is associated with an increased the risk of hepatitis C–related liver disease in males, reports the most recent of Hepatology.

Males have strikingly increased risk of advanced liver disease.

However, the association between testosterone and risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related advanced liver disease is unknown.

Dr Michael DeBakey and colleagues from Texas, USA performed a cross-sectional study in male veterans with chronic HCV.

Blood samples were obtained to measure total serum testosterone and perform the FibroSURE-ActiTest.

There was a 25% increase in advanced fibrosis risk
Hepatology 

The team obtained other risk-factor data through systematic questionnaires, physical measurements, and serological tests.

The researchers evaluated the association between total testosterone and risk of advanced hepatic fibrosis and inflammatory activity measured by the FibroSURE-ActiTest.

A total of 308 eligible study participants were prospectively recruited.

There were 105 cases with advanced fibrosis, and 203 mild fibrosis controls as well as 88 cases with advanced inflammatory activity, and 220 mild activity controls.

The research team found that the mean total serum testosterone was significantly higher in advanced fibrosis cases as well as advanced inflammatory activity cases, compared to mild disease controls.

The research team observed a significant 25% increase in advanced fibrosis risk, and 15% increase in advanced inflammatory activity risk for each 1-ng/mL increase in total serum testosterone.

Total testosterone in the upper tertile was associated with an even greater excess risk of advanced fibrosis than advanced inflammatory activity.

Dr DeBakey's team concludes, "Total serum testosterone is associated with an increased risk of both advanced hepatic fibrosis and advanced hepatic inflammatory activity in HCV-infected men."

"Testosterone may be important in the pathogenesis of HCV-related advanced liver disease in males."

Hepatology 2012: 55(3): 759–768
13 March 2012