title: Carotid and femoral atherosclerosis in chronic hepatitis C: a 5-year follow-up.
abstract: The objective of this study was to assess the progression of atherosclerosis in carotid and femoral arteries after a 5-year period using ultrasound in subjects with chronic hepatitis C and in controls matched for classic atherosclerotic risk factors. A total of 40 patients and 40 controls were assessed by echocolor Doppler in 2001 and in 2006 to evaluate plaque and intima-media thickness. The patients showed no changes in plaque and intima-media thickness during the 5-year period in all districts examined, whereas a significant increase in intima-media thickness in the carotid sections was recorded in the controls. Chronic hepatitis C seems to cause delay in the atherosclerotic process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Science, Clinica Medica II, Università di Padova, Padova, Italy. franca.bilora@sanita.padova.it
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bilora
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Campagnolo
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossato
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arzenton
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petrobelli
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color