Hepatitis C and the heart: to beat or not to beat.
BACKGROUND
Many enteroviruses as well as hepatitis C have been increasingly found in association with cardiomyopathies, even though, the evidence has been inconclusive.


METHODS
From 1998 to 2001, at the liver clinic of our community-based hospital, in the cohort of hepatitis C patients, infection evidence by PCR confirmation and echocardiographic measures of left ventricular (LV) function were obtained.


RESULTS
One hundred-eight patients were identified. Fifty percent of them have echocardiographic abnormalities. Patient's mean age was 55 +/- 10 years; 45% women, 55% men; 32% had LVH, 13.8% had high right ventricular systolic pressures, and 4% displayed contractility abnormalities. No cases of dilated or hypertrophic cardiomiopathies were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Echocardiographic abnormalities are not uncommon findings associated with hepatitis C infection, however all these findings can easily be explained by existing co-morbidities. High right ventricular systolic pressure, suggestive of pulmonary hypertension, which may be secondary to portal hypertension, is an independent finding for hepatitis C.
Kcomt
Willam
W
Internal Medicine, St. Barnabas Hospital, Affiliated to Weil Medical College of Cornell University, Bronx, NY, USA.
Nahavandi
Afshin A
AA
Myaing
Malay
M
Alkhalil
Chadi
C
Stein
David
D
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution