In case you missed it
J Hepatol. 2018 Mar 2. pii: S0168-8278(18)30132-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.02.015. [Epub ahead of print]
J Hepatol. 2018 Mar 2. pii: S0168-8278(18)30132-6. doi: 10.1016/j.jhep.2018.02.015. [Epub ahead of print]
Article in Press
Hepatitis C Virus Eradication by Direct Antiviral Agents Improves Carotid Atherosclerosis in patients with Severe Liver FibrosisSalvatore Petta, Luigi Elio Adinolfi, Anna Ludovica Fracanzani, Francesca Rini, Rosalia Caldarella, Vincenza Calvaruso, Calogero Cammà , Marcello Ciaccio, Vito Di Marco, Stefania Grimaudo, Anna Licata, Aldo Marrone, Riccardo Nevola, Rosaria Maria Pipitone, Antonio Pinto, Luca Rinaldi, Daniele Torres, Antonino Tuttolomondo, Luca Valenti, Silvia Fargion, Antonio Craxì
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhep.2018.02.015
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which the arteries become narrow as a result of gradual plaque accumulation. Cholesterol plaque may slowly build up in the carotid artery wall, over decades. The growing plaque may eventually narrow the carotid artery, known as stenosis, and can lead to a stroke.
Highlights
•HCV eradication by direct antiviral agents improves carotid atherosclerosis.
•Atherosclerosis improvement is confirmed after stratification for cardiovascular risk factors.
•Atherosclerosis improvement is observed in patients with and without cirrhosis.
Abstract
Background and Aim
Recent studies suggest an association between HCV infection and cardiovascular damage, including carotid atherosclerosis, with a possible effect of HCV clearance on cardiovascular outcomes. We aimed to examine whether HCV eradication by direct antiviral agents (DAA) improves carotid atherosclerosis in HCV-infected patients with advanced fibrosis/compensated cirrhosis.
Materials and Methods
One hundred eighty-two consecutive HCV patients with advanced fibrosis or compensated cirrhosis were evaluated by virological, anthropometric and metabolic measurements. All patients underwent DAA-based antiviral therapy according to AISF/EASL guidelines. Intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid thickening (IMT≥1 mm) and carotid plaques, defined as focal thickening of ≥ 1.5 mm at the level of common carotid, were evaluated by ultrasonography (US) at baseline and 9-12 months after the end of therapy.
Results
Fifty-six percent of patients were males, mean age was 63.1±10.4 years and 65.9% had compensated cirrhosis. One patient out of five had diabetes, 14.3% were obese, 41.8% had arterial hypertension and 35.2% were smokers. Mean IMT was 0.94±0.29 mm, 42.9% had IMT≥1 mm, and 42.9% had carotid plaques. All patients achieved a 12-weeks sustained virological response. IMT significantly decreased from baseline to follow-up (0.94±0.29 mm vs. 0.81±0.27, p<0.001). Consistently, a significant reduction in the prevalence of patients with carotid thickening from baseline to follow-up was observed (42.8% vs. 17%, p<0.001), while no changes were reported for carotid plaques (42.8% vs. 47.8%, p=0.34). These results were confirmed in sub-groups of patients stratified for cardiovascular risk factors and liver disease severity.
Conclusion
HCV eradication by DAA improves carotid atherosclerosis in patients with severe fibrosis without or with additional metabolic risk factors. The impact of this improvement in the atherosclerotic burden in terms of reduction of major cardiovascular outcomes is worth investigating in the long term.
Lay of Summary
Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) eradication by direct antiviral agents improves carotid atherosclerosis in patients with advanced fibrosis/compensated cirrhosis
The improvement in intima-media thickness and carotid thickening was confirmed after stratification for severity of liver disease and cardiovascular risk factors
HCV eradication by DAA also lead to improvement in glucose homeostasis and increase in cholesterol levels
Of Interest:
HCV eradication with DAAs improves carotid thickening
March 6, 2018
Hepatitis C eradication by direct-acting antivirals improved carotid atherosclerosis in patients with severe fibrosis regardless of the presence of additional metabolic…
Evolving Recognition of Chronic Hepatitis C Infection as a Modifiable Risk Factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Increasingly, data have amassed exploring whether HCV infection acts as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. However, the results are conflicting and have led to some ambiguity.
Risk of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Due to Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: A Review
The current data support the assertion that CHC infection increases the risk of subclinical and likely clinical CVD, through a multifactorial cascade which may include direct and indirect immune and inflammatory effects, metabolic derangements and possibly direct cardiotropism exhibited by the HCV virus. There is an urgent need for translational research to delineate these proposed mechanisms for the apparent association between HCV and CVD. Additionally, more prospective cohort studies conducted in different patient populations are needed to confirm the findings of HCV infection and increased subclinical and clinical CVD. Furthermore, larger, well-designed therapeutic studies are critical to establish whether CHC truly increases CVD risk and to evaluate if HCV treatment can attenuate or even eliminate that increased CVD risk. The promise of large-scale HCV therapy ushered in by the highly efficacious and well tolerated DAAs has arrived, and therefore understanding the relationship between HCV and CVD and how this relationship is affected by HCV eradication with treatment has substantial public health implications.
Continue to full text article.....
Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
A strong association between HCV infection and immune-related disorders, such as cryoglobulinemia, and metabolic alterations, such as insulin resistance, has been demonstrated. More recent evidence suggests HCV infection is linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular disorders. Whether a relationship between HCV infection and cardiovascular disease exists may have important implications for HCV treatment.
Infectious Disease Advisor spoke with David E. Bernstein, MD, from the Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine, and Vincent Lo Re, MD, MSc, from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, regarding the link between HCV infection and cardiovascular disease.
A strong association between HCV infection and immune-related disorders, such as cryoglobulinemia, and metabolic alterations, such as insulin resistance, has been demonstrated. More recent evidence suggests HCV infection is linked to an increased risk for cardiovascular disorders. Whether a relationship between HCV infection and cardiovascular disease exists may have important implications for HCV treatment.
Infectious Disease Advisor spoke with David E. Bernstein, MD, from the Hofstra-Northwell School of Medicine, and Vincent Lo Re, MD, MSc, from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, regarding the link between HCV infection and cardiovascular disease.
No comments:
Post a Comment