title: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection associated with autonomic dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired autonomic function has been described in patients with chronic liver diseases from different aetiologies, and has proven to be a poor prognostic indicator. To date, it is not known how chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects the autonomic nervous system.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, we compared cardiovagal autonomic function in patients with chronic HCV infection and healthy controls and examined the relation between autonomic function and serum levels of aminotransferases, HCV RNA, cryoglobulins, albumin and glucose.
  
  
  METHODS
  Autonomic function was assessed in 45 treatment-naïve patients with chronic HCV infection and in 40 healthy controls by determining spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and heart rate variability (HRV) indices. The R-R interval was determined by electrocardiogram recording; continuous radial artery pressure was monitored simultaneously by applanation tonometry. Laboratory analyses and quantitative polymerase chain reaction for serum HCV RNA level were performed by standard procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BRS and HRV time and frequency domain indices were lower in patients with HCV infection compared with healthy controls [7.1+/-3.4 vs. 11.5+/-6.5 ms/mmHg for BRS, 168.5+/-160.9 vs. 370.7+/-349.4 ms(2) for low-frequency HRV (mean+/-SD); P<0.01]. Multivariate analysis showed that autonomic dysfunction in HCV-infected patients correlated with elevated alanine aminotransferase levels, but was not associated with serum HCV RNA levels and cryoglobulins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that impaired autonomic function is caused by chronic HCV infection. Further studies are needed, however, to identify the underlying mechanisms.
authors: 1st Department of Internal Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. janos.osztovits@gmail.com
authors: János
authors: J
authors: Osztovits
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Horváth
authors: Margit
authors: M
authors: Abonyi
authors: Tamás
authors: T
authors: Tóth
authors: Zsolt
authors: Z
authors: Visnyei
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Bekö
authors: Tímea
authors: T
authors: Csák
authors: Péter László
authors: PL
authors: Lakatos
authors: Levente
authors: L
authors: Littvay
authors: János
authors: J
authors: Fehér
authors: Péter
authors: P
authors: Kempler
authors: Márk
authors: M
authors: Kollai
authors: Ferenc
authors: F
authors: Szalay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D017704:Baroreflex; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase