title: Serum lipids and chronic hepatitis C genotype 4: interaction and significance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolic abnormalities are common in chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC). However, the genotypic differences of these disarrangements in patients infected with CHC genotype 4 (HCV-4) and its association with liver histology and viral loads remain unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We consecutively enrolled 183 HCV-4 patients and 106 healthy matched controls; to compare metabolic profiles and assess pattern of association of HCV RNA levels as well as histological factors with the serum lipid profile.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV-4 infection is associated with higher homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index, despite that, a favourable lipid pattern, consisting of an elevation in HDL- C and a reduction in serum cholesterol (TC), LDL-C and triglyceride (TG) levels, in comparison with normal matched adults. Significant fibrosis was independently associated with HOMA-IR, portal/periportal inflammation grade, serum cholesterol and age. Univariate association was elucidated between lower LDL-C and TC and Metavir activity score and between higher TG and TC and steatosis. In multivariate analysis, severe hepatitis activity, milder hepatic fibrosis, and triglyceride levels are associated with higher HCV RNA levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV-4 is associated with wide metabolic changes. A proportional relationship is found between serum lipid profiles and hepatitis C viral load and liver histology in patients with HCV-4.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt. mkhattabmed@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mahmoud A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khattab
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eslam
authors.forename: Mayada M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Aly
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shatat
authors.forename: Yousef I
authors.initials: YI
authors.lastname: Mousa
authors.forename: Hesham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Abd-Aalhalim
authors.forename: Hanan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aly
authors.forename: Yehia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D012367:RNA, Viral; D014280:Triglycerides