Association of Hepatitis C Virus Infection with Proteinuria and Glomerular Filtration Rate.
OBJECTIVE
Despite several studies, the extent to which hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) remains controversial. Thus, we examined the relationship between HCV and CKD using the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2012).


METHODS
Specimens positive for anti-HCV antibodies were retested and confirmed with recombinant immunoblot assay (RIBA). Proteinuria was defined as urine albumin creatinine ratio > 30 mg/g. CKD was defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) . We used linear and logistic regression models to examine the association between HCV and outcomes with and without adjustment for age, sex, race, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and body mass index and accounting for the complex survey design.


RESULTS
Of the 33,729 eligible participants, HCV infection was present in 659 (1.73%). In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, HCV was associated with proteinuria (OR = 1.40, p = 0.01 and OR = 1.50, p = 0.02, respectively). In both unadjusted and adjusted analyses, individuals with HCV had significantly higher GFR than individuals without (1.4 mL/min, p = 0.04 and 2.7 mL/min, p < 0.001, respectively). We did not find an association of HCV with CKD in adjusted or unadjusted analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
HCV infection is associated with proteinuria and high GFR but not with CKD. The biological mechanism of the observed association needs further study.
Community College of Baltimore County, School of Health Professions-Nursing, Catonsville, Maryland, USA.
Nargiza
N
Kurbanova
University of Tennessee College of Medicine at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA.
Rehan
R
Qayyum
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000821:virology; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000821:virology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chronic kidney disease; glomerular filtration rate; hepatitis C virus; proteinuria