Effect of host-related factors on the intensity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Abstract

There is increasing interest in the identification of factors associated with liver disease progression in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We assessed host-related factors associated with a histologically advanced stage of this disease and determined the rate of liver fibrosis progression in HCV-infected patients. We included patients submitted to liver biopsy, who were anti-HCV and HCV RNA positive, who showed a parenteral risk factor (blood transfusion or intravenous drug use), and who gave information about alcohol consumption.Patients were divided into two groups for analysis: group 1 -grades 0 to 2; group 2 -grades 3 to 4. The groups were compared in terms of sex, age at the time of infection, estimated duration of infection and alcoholism Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects people worldwide and about 170 million individuals are estimated to be chronically infected with HCV. Several aspects of the natural history of this disease are still not completely understood.After acute infection, viremia persists in 85% of the patients [1] and most of them develop chronic hepatitis. Different studies have shown variable rates of progression to cirrhosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C according to the group analyzed. Only 2% of women contaminated through the use of immunoglobulin evolved to cirrhosis over a follow-up period of 17 years [2], while cirrhosis was observed in 51% of patients contaminated through blood transfusion [3].During cirrhosis, patients may develop complications secondary to portal hypertension and/or hepatic insufficiency; they may also have a higher risk for hepatocellular carcinoma (2 to 4% per year) [4,5]. These complications are intimately related to the degree of fibrosis and destructuring of the lobular architecture and, therefore, staging represents the main prognostic marker in patients with chronic hepatitis C.Knowledge about the factors that influence the natural history of hepatitis C is important for the clinical treatment of patients and for the implementation of preventive and therapeutic measures.Our objective was to assess the effect of hostrelated factors on the histological manifestations of

Can Fibrogenesis Markers Reflect Early Hepatic Histopathology in Chronic Hepatitis C?

“…In the current study, all groups showed insignificant difference as regard to age, and sex as fibrosis progression was influenced by duration of infection and the age at time of infection [15].…”

Association between age at diagnosis and degree of liver injury in hepatitis C

“…Patients infected at an older age or those with a longer disease course present with more advanced stages. 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 Several investigations have demonstrated rapid disease progression among patients infected at older ages, particularly in studies of patients enrolled with early-stage fibrosis (F0, F1), where progression to advanced fibrosis was more common among patients older than 40–50 years. 15 , 16 …”

Predictors of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Chronic HCV Infection

“…3,25,26 One study has suggested that antioxidant defense mechanism deteriorates with age, and leaves the liver vulnerable to oxidative stress. 27 Our finding was consistent with the literature.…”