Active chronic hepatitis C increases the risk of major cardiovascular events, independent of the severity of the liver disease or the common cardiovascular risk factors.

This was one of the conclusions from a recent review* of studies into the extra-hepatic effects of hepatitis C i.e. the effects of the virus outside of the liver, on the rest of the body. The cardiovascular events included stroke and coronary artery disease.

The study which reviewed published studies in subjects with chronic hepatitis C found that hepatitis C infection appears as an independent risk factor for the occurrence of strokes, after adjusting for other known factors.

People living with chronic hepatitis C have an increased prevalence of hardening and thickening of the arteries compared to healthy controls or those with hepatitis B or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Chronic hepatitis C also seem to be an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease.

In some studies, successful interferon-based therapy showed a beneficial impact on the cardiovascular risk, the reviewers said.

It was suggested that a follow-up be done to evaluate the beneficial impact of interferon-based therapy in light of new direct antiviral interferon-free treatments being introduced for hepatitis C.

* Liver International, 30 Jan 2016