Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with increased arterial stiffness. Although chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was shown to be associated with metabolic disorder and chronic inflammation, the effects of chronic HCV infection on arterial stiffness remain unclear. This study recruited 221 patients including 32 normal controls, 72 NAFLD patients, and 117 subjects with HCV infection. Arterial stiffness was assessed by peripheral arterial stiffness index, Compliance Index (CI), and central arterial stiffness index, Stiffness Index derived from digital volume pulse by photoplethysmography. Levels of oxidative stress marker and inflammatory markers were also measured. The HCV group had significantly lower CI (4.8 ± 3.1 units vs. 3.9 ± 2.1 units vs. 3.0 ± 1.7 units; P for trend <.001) and higher Stiffness Index (7.0 ± 1.6 m/s vs. 8.3 ± 2.3 m/s vs. 8.4 ± 2.3 m/s; P for trend = .001) compared with the normal controls and NAFLD groups. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that CI was independently correlated with systolic blood pressure (beta = -0.202, P = .013) and HCV infection (beta = -0.216, P = .036). Chronic HCV infection was independently associated with peripheral arterial stiffness. Peripheral arterial stiffness in chronic HCV infection was not associated with a marker of general inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein); however, a role for more specific markers of inflammation cannot be ruled out.

中文翻译：

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慢性丙型肝炎感染对动脉僵硬的影响。

非酒精性脂肪肝疾病（NAFLD）与动脉僵硬度增加有关。尽管已证明慢性丙型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染与代谢紊乱和慢性炎症有关，但慢性HCV感染对动脉僵硬的影响尚不清楚。该研究招募了221名患者，包括32名正常对照，72名NAFLD患者和117名HCV感染患者。通过外周动脉刚度指数，顺应性指数（CI）和中央动脉刚度指数，刚度指数，通过数字体积描记法从数字体积脉冲中得出，评估动脉刚度。还测量了氧化应激标志物和炎症标志物的水平。HCV组的CI显着降低（4.8±3.1单位vs. 3.9±2.1单位vs. 3.0±1.7单位; P表示趋势<.001）和更高的刚度指数（7.0±1。6 m / s对8.3±2.3 m / s对8.4±2.3 m / s; 与正常对照组和NAFLD组相比，趋势的P = .001）。多元线性回归分析显示CI与收缩压（β= -0.202，P = .013）和HCV感染（β= -0.216，P = .036）独立相关。慢性HCV感染与外周动脉僵硬度独立相关。慢性HCV感染的外周动脉僵硬度与一般炎症的标志物（高敏感性C反应蛋白）无关。然而，不能排除炎症的更具体标志物的作用。P = .013）和HCV感染（β= -0.216，P = .036）。慢性HCV感染与外周动脉僵硬度独立相关。慢性HCV感染的外周动脉僵硬度与一般炎症的标志物（高敏感性C反应蛋白）无关。然而，不能排除炎症的更具体标志物的作用。P = .013）和HCV感染（β= -0.216，P = .036）。慢性HCV感染与外周动脉僵硬度独立相关。慢性HCV感染的外周动脉僵硬度与一般炎症的标志物（高敏感性C反应蛋白）无关。然而，不能排除炎症的更具体标志物的作用。