Hepatitis B virus infection in patients with metabolic syndrome: a complicated relationship. Results of a population based study.
BACKGROUND
The presence of hepatitis B infection (HBI) and metabolic syndrome (MS) at the same time constitutes a high risk for liver cirrhosis and potentially hepatocellular carcinoma.


OBJECTIVE
In this study we aim to explore the relationship between MS and HBI.


METHODS
We used data from the cross-sectional HepaMeta study conducted in 2011 in Slovakia. Patients were tested for presence of MS, while lipid levels (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, TG, apolipoprotein B100 and HBI (HBsAg and antiHBcIgG)) were also monitored. Viral load was measured in HBsAg positive patients.


RESULTS
Altogether 855 patients were screened, MS was diagnosed in 25.1% of patients and 7.9% of patients presented with HBI. AntiHBcIgG antibodies were present in 34.6% patients. HBI patients had lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol along with a decreased apolipoprotein B100 (4.54 ± 0.84 vs. 5.0 ± 0.99 mmol/l, P=0.001; 2.29 ± 0.58 vs. 2.6 ± 0.68 mmol/l, P=0.001 and 0.71 ± 0.21 vs. 0.77 ± 0.23 mmol/l, P=0.013 respectively). Patients diagnosed with MS had higher HBV DNA load than patients without MS - 1300.2 (95% CI 506.06-3440.41) vs. 7661.3 (95% CI 2008.17-29,228.06) IU/ml; P=0.011. HBI patients with TC and apolipoprotein B100 in the reference range had lower HBV DNA load than patients with high or low values of TC or apolipoprotein B100.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatitis B patients had lower levels of total and LDL cholesterol along with a decreased apolipoprotein B100. Viral load of chronic hepatitis B patients with MS was higher than that in patients without MS.
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: petjarc@yahoo.com.
Peter
P
Jarčuška
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: martin.janicko@gmail.com.
Martin
M
Janičko
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Pekarska 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic and Mayo College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: kruzliakpeter@gmail.com.
Peter
P
Kružliak
Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, International Clinical Research Center, St. Anne's University Hospital, Masaryk University, Pekarska 53, 656 91 Brno, Czech Republic; Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic and Mayo College of Medicine, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: miroslav.novak@FNUSA.cz.
Miroslav
M
Novák
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: veseliny@yahoo.com.
Eduard
E
Veselíny
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: janfedacko@hotmail.com.
Ján
J
Fedačko
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: gabrielasenajova@gmail.com.
Gabriela
G
Senajová
Internal Department, Poprad Hospital, Banícka 803/28, 05845 Poprad, Slovakia. Electronic address: drazilova.s@nemocnicapp.sk.
Sylvia
S
Dražilová
Department of Public Health, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: geckova.andrea.madarasova@upjs.sk.
Andrea
A
Madarasová-Gecková
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: maria.marekova@upjs.sk.
Mária
M
Mareková
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: daniel.pella@upjs.sk.
Daniel
D
Pella
Department of Medical Microbiology, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: leonard.siegfried@upjs.sk.
Leonard
L
Siegfried
Department of Infectious Diseases, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia. Electronic address: kristian@unlp.sk.
Pavol
P
Kristián
1st Department of Internal Medicine, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Trieda SNP 1, 04001 Košice, Slovakia.
Eva
E
Kolesárová
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D019562:Viral Load
Apolipoprotein B100; Cholesterol; Hepatitis B; Metabolic syndrome