Review Article

Atherosclerosis as Extrahepatic Manifestation of Chronic Infection with Hepatitis C Virus

Table 1

Characteristics of studies associating HCV infection and atheromatosis.

Author, year, countryStudy designAssociationEnrolled patientsCommentsMethod of carotid atheromatosis assessment

Ishizaka et al., 2002 [14], JapanCross-sectional population basedPositive4784/104 HCV infectedFirst study in this field, measuring IMT Ultrasonography
IMT measurement

Tomiyama et al., 2003 [15], JapanCohort studyPositive7514/87 HCV infectedIncrease arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocityPulse wave velocity

Mostafa et al., 2010 [16], EgyptCross-sectionalPositive329 anti-HCV positive/724 anti-HCV negativePatients with active disease had higher risk compared to past infectionUltrasonography
IMT measurement

Petta et al., 2012 [6], ItalyCase controlPositive174 genotype 1 infected/174 controlsAssociation between fibrosis and the presence of plaquesUltrasonography
IMT > 1.3 mm

Adinolfi et al., 2012 [17], ItalyCase controlPositive803/326 HCV infectedAssociation between HCV steatosis and atheromatosisUltrasonography
IMT: >1 mm or plaques ≥ 1.5 mm

Huang et al., 2013 [18], China Meta-analysisPositiveStrongly correlates HCV infection to carotid atheromatosis

Masia et al., 2011 [19], SpainCohort studyNegative138 HIV/63 HCV/HIV coinfectedNo matching between exposed and control patients for any variableUltrasonography
IMT > 1.0 mm

Caliskan et al., 2009 [20], TurkeyProspective 59 months follow-upNegative36 HCV infected/36 controlsNo matching between exposed and control patients for any variableUltrasonography
IMT > 1.0 mm

Tien et al., 2009 [21], USACross-sectionalNegative1675/53 HCV monoinfected HIV/HCV coinfection may be associated with a greater risk of carotid plaquesUltrasonography
Focal CIMT > 1.5 mm in any of the imaged segment

Völzke et al., 2004 [22], GermanyCross-sectionalNegative4310/15 HCV infectedVery small number of HCV infected patientsUltrasonography
IMT measurement