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Lookup NU author(s): Emeritus Professor Margaret Bassendine, Dr Soren Nielsen, Dr Simon Bridge, Dr Daniel Felmlee, Dr David Sheridan, Dr R Neely
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© 2016 Elsevier Masson SASHepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major pathogen with approximately 3% of the world's population (over 170 million) infected. Epidemiological studies have shown HCV is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular mortality as well as peripheral arterial disease. This is despite HCV inducing an ostensibly favourable lipid profile with accompanying low classical risk score for atherosclerosis (AS). We discuss possible factors involved in the aetiopathogenesis of atherosclerosis in chronic HCV and hypothesise that an important mechanism underlying the development of AS is the presence of circulating low-density immune complexes that induce an inflammatory response. We suggest that HCV particles may be inducing an antibody response to lipoproteins present in the lipoviral particles and sub-viral particles – a concept similar to the more general ‘autoantibody’ response to modified LDL. After virologic cure some AS risk factors will recede but an increase in serum cholesterol could result in progression of early atherosclerotic lesions, leaving a legacy from persistent HCV infection that has clinical and therapeutic implications.
Author(s): Bassendine MF, Nielsen SU, Bridge SH, Felmlee DJ, Sheridan DA, Packard CJ, Neely RD
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Clinics and Research in Hepatology and Gastroenterology
Year: 2017
Volume: 41
Issue: 1
Pages: 25-30
Print publication date: 01/02/2017
Online publication date: 11/01/2016
Acceptance date: 02/04/2016
ISSN (print): 2210-7401
ISSN (electronic): 2210-741X
Publisher: Elsevier Masson SAS
URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinre.2016.09.008
DOI: 10.1016/j.clinre.2016.09.008
