Association of lipid profiles with hepatitis C viral load in chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1 or 2 infection.
OBJECTIVE
Metabolic profiles correlate with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and are known to be predictors of virologic responses in chronic hepatitis C patients on interferon-based treatment. However, little is known about the differential association of lipid profiles with hepatitis C viral load between genotype 1 and 2 infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of lipid profiles on HCV RNA levels in patients with genotypes 1 and 2.


METHODS
A total of 531 chronic hepatitis C patients infected patients with HCV genotype 1 or 2 were consecutively enrolled. Univariate and multivariate approaches were used to estimate the associations between demographic, metabolic, and viral variables and HCV RNA levels.


RESULTS
Higher serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein levels correlated with higher HCV RNA levels. In multivariate analysis, genotype 1 infection, severe hepatitis activity, milder hepatic fibrosis, higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and triglyceride levels are associated with higher HCV viral loads (P<0.05). Subanalysis on patients with lower body mass index values showed higher HCV viral load was associated with higher HOMA-IR index and total cholesterol level (P<0.05). After stratification by HCV genotype, lipid profiles were significantly associated with HCV viral load in genotype 2 infection (P<0.05), but not genotype 1 infection.


CONCLUSIONS
A proportional relationship is found between serum lipid profiles and hepatitis C viral load in patients with genotype 2 infection; however, whether manipulation of lipid profiles would improve the response to current anti-HCV therapy is to be determined in further studies.
Hsu
Ching-Sheng
CS
Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Tzu Chi General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Liu
Chen-Hua
CH
Liu
Chun-Jen
CJ
Wang
Chia-Chi
CC
Chen
Chi-Ling
CL
Lai
Ming-Yang
MY
Chen
Pei-Jer
PJ
Chen
Ding-Shinn
DS
Kao
Jia-Horng
JH
D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D019562:Viral Load
D008055:Lipids; D012367:RNA, Viral