[The impact of coexisting diseases on the course of chronic hepatitis C].
OBJECTIVE
to investigate the relationship between coexisting diseases (CD) and the progress of liver disease in chronic hepatitis C (CHC).


METHODS
557 consecutive pts (F/M: 262/295; median age: 42 years) with untreated CHC. CD were defined as a chronic diseases requiring treatment at least 12-months before liver biopsy. HBsAg- and/or HIV-positive as well as alcohol abusers and intravenous drug abusers were excluded from analysis. The significant progress of liver disease was described in the terms of advanced fibrosis (AF), defined as stage 3-6 according to Ishak's system. The relationship between CD and AF was assessed in multivariate analysis simultaneously taking into account the following variables: age, gender, route of transmission, liver steatosis and overweight.


RESULTS
Multivariate analysis revealed that CD is independently associated with AF (adjusted OR = 3.4; p < 0.0001). Similar relationship is observed for age over 40 years as well as HCV infection as a result of medical procedures. The contraindications to antiviral treatment were observed in 18.7% pts with CD and only 1.1% pts without CD (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with CD are at relatively high risk of AF and simultaneously, notable part of them presents contraindications to antiviral treatment.
Kryczka
Wiesław
W
Oddział Obserwacyjno-Zakaźny, Wojewódzki Szpital Zespolony w Kielcach.
Zarebska-Michaluk
Dorota
D
Chrapek
Magdalena
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors