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The University of Arkansas scientists announced that hepatitis ‘C’ is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
“The link between chronic infections and atherosclerotic heart disease has been well described. Hepatitis C is a common infection affecting more than 150 million people globally. We wanted to see if active infection with hepatitis C increases the risk of developing heart disease,” said principal investigator, Dr. Naga V Pothineni MD at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, US.
Hepatitis C induces a state of chronic inflammation which causes activation of pathways that ultimately lead to the development of a cholesterol plaque. These plaques block arteries that supply the heart, cutting off its blood supply. This leads to acute myocardial ischemia, commonly referred to as a heart attack.
The researchers examined the records of approximately 25,000 patients. They compared the rate of heart attacks in patients with and without hepatitis C infection. They found that patients with active hepatitis C infection had a 59 per cent higher chance of developing a heart attack related event compared to patients without hepatitis C, even though they had the same cardiac risk factors like hypertension and diabetes.
Dr. Pothineni said “Results of this study have important implications. As novel therapies are being developed, most patients with hepatitis C can now hope for a cure. Identifying hepatitis C as a significant risk factor and treating it might help not only recovery of liver function, but can also decrease the risk of heart disease in this population. Further studies in this area can strengthen our observations.”
The study was published in the American Journal of Cardiology.
Source: http://www.pharmabiz.com/NewsDetails.aspx?aid=92540&sid=2