Hepatitis B and C virus infection and the risk of atherosclerosis in a general population.
BACKGROUND
The development of atherosclerosis has an inflammatory component. Currently it is not clear, whether hepatitis B and C virus infections are associated with the risk of atherosclerosis. The aim of the present analysis was to investigate those relationships in a population sample.


RESULTS
The study of health in Pomerania (SHIP) is a cross-sectional study of the adult population in the northeast of Germany. HBs antigen (HBsAg) and IgG antibodies against hepatitis B and C virus (anti-HBs and anti-HCV) were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays. Fifteen subjects (0.4%) were positive for HBsAg, and 21 subjects (0.5%) were positive for anti-HCV. Among the persons who had no history of anti-hepatitis B vaccination, 213 individuals (5.0%) were found to be as positive for anti-HBs. These individuals and those with prevalent anti-HCV antibodies were regarded as cases (n = 233). The control group comprised of 4033 individuals. Multivariable analyses revealed that there was no independent association between anti-HBs and anti-HCV antibody seropositivity and atherosclerotic end-points such as prevalent myocardial infarction, stroke, carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), carotid plaques and stenoses.


CONCLUSIONS
There is no association between serological markers for hepatitis B and C virus infection and the risk of atherosclerosis in this population sample.
Völzke
Henry
H
Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University, Walther Rathenau Street 48, D-17487, Greifswald, Germany. voelzke@uni-greifswald.de
Schwahn
Christian
C
Wolff
Birger
B
Mentel
Renate
R
Robinson
Daniel M
DM
Kleine
Volker
V
Felix
Stephan B
SB
John
Ulrich
U
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution