title: Higher Prevalence and More Severe Coronary Artery Disease in Hepatitis C Virus-infected Patients: A Case Control Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An association of Coronary artery disease (CAD) with hepatitis C (HCV) has been suggested, but definitive data are still lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our study sought to estimate the prevalence and severity of CAD in HCV patients compared to with age-, sex-, and race-matched controls without HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  63 HCV-infected patients were compared with 63 age, race, and sex-matched controls without HCV infection undergoing coronary angiography for evaluation of CAD. CAD was defined as more than a 50% blockage in any of the proximal coronary arteries on angiogram. The severity of the stenosis was defined by the modified Reardon severity scoring system: <50% stenosis of the luminal diameter, 1 point; 50-74%, 2 points; 75-99%, 3 points; 100% or total obstruction, 4 points. The points for each lesion in the proximal coronary circulation were summed to give the score for severity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significantly higher prevalence of CAD was noted in the HCV population (69.8% vs. 47.6%, = 0.01). The combined Reardon's severity score in the HCV group was significantly higher compared to the controls (6.26 ± 5.39 vs. 2.6 ± 3.03, P < 0.0005). Additionally, significant multivessel CAD (>50% stenosis and ≥2 vessels involved) was also noted significantly more commonly in the HCV group compared to controls (57.1% vs. 15.9%, P < 0.0005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this retrospective study the prevalence and severity of CAD was higher in HCV patients who were evaluated for CAD by angiogram compared with matched non-HCV patients. HCV-positive status is potentially a risk factor for CAD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA ; Division of Gastroenterology, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, 225 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Sanjaya K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Satapathy
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA.
authors.forename: Yun Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA.
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kataria
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA.
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shifteh
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA.
authors.forename: Rohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bhansali
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA ; Division of Gastroenterology, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, 225 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Maurice A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cerulli
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040, USA ; Division of Gastroenterology, NSLIJ Hofstra School of Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, 225 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bernstein
keywords: ACE, angiotensin converting enzyme; CAD, coronary artery disease; DM, diabetes mellitus; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HDL, high density lipoprotein; IR, insulin resistance; IVDU, intravenous drug use; LDL, low density lipoprotein; coronary artery disease; hepatitis C; prevalence