BACKGROUND & AIMS: Patients with chronic HCV infection besides hepatitis often present cardiovascular damage, the pathogenesis of which is not defined. In chronic liver diseases, including NAFLD and cirrhosis, a procoagulant imbalance, potentially responsible for atherosclerosis has been reported. We aimed at evaluating whether a procoagulant imbalance is present also in non-cirrhotic patients with HCV infection and whether the procoagulant imbalance correlates with cardiovascular damage. The correlation between the procoagulant imbalance, coexisting steatosis, and liver fibrosis was analysed. METHODS: From 2014 to 2018, 393 subjects (205 patients with chronic HCV infection from two liver units and 188 controls) were enrolled. Metabolic, cardiovascular, liver assessment and coagulation parameters-procoagulants (FII and FVIII) and anticoagulants (antithrombin and protein C [PC]), endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), peak-thrombin and their ratios (with/without thrombomodulin)-were determined. RESULTS: The procoagulant imbalance (defined as high FVIII, FVIII/PC ratio, ETP-ratio and peak-thrombin-ratio (with/without thrombomodulin)) was significantly higher in patients with chronic HCV than controls. Steatosis was detected in 87 patients (42%). No difference in coagulation imbalance, carotid and cardiac parameters and severity of liver fibrosis was observed in patients with or without steatosis, despite the latter had less severe metabolic alterations. The FVIII/PC ratio was independently associated with carotid intima-media thickness (coefficient 0.04, 95% CI 0.002-0.07, P = .04) and liver fibrosis (coefficient 0.64, 95% CI 0.37-0.92, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Patients with HCV infection, even in the absence of cirrhosis have a procoagulant-imbalance that possibly plays a role in increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and progression of fibrosis.

Procoagulant imbalance influences cardiovascular and liver damage in chronic hepatitis C independently of steatosis / G. Sigon, R. D'Ambrosio, M. Clerici, G. Pisano, V. Chantarangkul, R. Sollazzi, R. Lombardi, F. Peyvandi, P. Lampertico, S. Fargion, A. Tripodi, A.L. Fracanzani. - In: LIVER INTERNATIONAL. - ISSN 1478-3223. - (2019 Aug 18). [Epub ahead of print]

Procoagulant imbalance influences cardiovascular and liver damage in chronic hepatitis C independently of steatosis

G. Sigon;R. D'Ambrosio;G. Pisano;R. Lombardi;F. Peyvandi;P. Lampertico;S. Fargion;A. Tripodi
Penultimo
;
A.L. Fracanzani
Ultimo
2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Patients with chronic HCV infection besides hepatitis often present cardiovascular damage, the pathogenesis of which is not defined. In chronic liver diseases, including NAFLD and cirrhosis, a procoagulant imbalance, potentially responsible for atherosclerosis has been reported. We aimed at evaluating whether a procoagulant imbalance is present also in non-cirrhotic patients with HCV infection and whether the procoagulant imbalance correlates with cardiovascular damage. The correlation between the procoagulant imbalance, coexisting steatosis, and liver fibrosis was analysed. METHODS: From 2014 to 2018, 393 subjects (205 patients with chronic HCV infection from two liver units and 188 controls) were enrolled. Metabolic, cardiovascular, liver assessment and coagulation parameters-procoagulants (FII and FVIII) and anticoagulants (antithrombin and protein C [PC]), endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), peak-thrombin and their ratios (with/without thrombomodulin)-were determined. RESULTS: The procoagulant imbalance (defined as high FVIII, FVIII/PC ratio, ETP-ratio and peak-thrombin-ratio (with/without thrombomodulin)) was significantly higher in patients with chronic HCV than controls. Steatosis was detected in 87 patients (42%). No difference in coagulation imbalance, carotid and cardiac parameters and severity of liver fibrosis was observed in patients with or without steatosis, despite the latter had less severe metabolic alterations. The FVIII/PC ratio was independently associated with carotid intima-media thickness (coefficient 0.04, 95% CI 0.002-0.07, P = .04) and liver fibrosis (coefficient 0.64, 95% CI 0.37-0.92, P < .0001). CONCLUSION: Patients with HCV infection, even in the absence of cirrhosis have a procoagulant-imbalance that possibly plays a role in increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and progression of fibrosis.
cardiovascular disease; coagulation parameters; fatty liver; fibrosis; hepatitis C infection
Settore MED/12 - Gastroenterologia
18-ago-2019
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Sigon_et_al-2019-Liver_International (3).pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 592.74 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
592.74 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/673045
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 2
  • Scopus 8
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 8
social impact