title: Association between hepatitis C virus core protein and carotid atherosclerosis.
abstract: A link between certain infectious microorganisms and an increased risk of atherosclerotic disease has been suggested. By analyzing the data of subjects who had undergone general health-screening tests, a possible association between carotid atherosclerosis and seropositivity of antibody against hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been previously reported. In the present study, a possible link between carotid atherosclerosis and HCV core protein positivity was assessed, because it is postulated to be a better marker of viremia and thus persistent infection. Of the 1992 enrolled subjects, 496 (25%) had carotid artery plaque, and 25 (1.3%) were positive for HCV core protein. Carotid artery plaque was positive in 480/1967 (24%) and 16/25 (64%) of the core protein-negative and core protein-positive subjects, respectively (p<0.0001 by chi(2) test). Serum concentrations of transaminases were higher in core protein-positive subjects, but albumin concentrations were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that HCV core protein positivity is an independent predictor of carotid plaque with an odds ratio of 5.61 (95% confidence interval 2.06-15.26, p<0.001). These data further support the possible link between persistent HCV infection and carotid atherosclerosis in the subjects without severe liver dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Center for Multiphasic Health Testing and Services, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ishizaka
authors.forename: Nobukazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ishizaka
authors.forename: Eiko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Tadao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Unuma
authors.forename: Ei-ichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tooda
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Ryozo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamakado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D002537:Intracranial Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014758:Viral Core Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014758:Viral Core Proteins