Features of tear production in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Aim. To study the features of tear production in patients with chronic hepatitis C, depending on the duration of infection. Methods. 40 patients (80 eyes) with chronic hepatitis C infection (first group - 11 patients, chronic hepatitis C duration up to 3 years, second group - 10 patients, chronic hepatitis C duration 3 to 5 years, third group - 19 patients, chronic hepatitis C duration over 5 years). The control group consisted of 20 healthy subjects (40 eyes). All study subjects underwent standard ophthalmic examination, a set of clinical, epidemiological and laboratory studies; the level of total tear production was examined by the Schirmer’s test. Results. Eye pathologies were determined in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Total tear production in patients with chronic hepatitis C was 1.82±0.09 mm compared to 2.2±0.06 mm in the control group. At the early stages of chronic hepatitis C (duration up to 3 years) tear production has changed diversely: it increased in 27.2% of patients and decreased in 18.8% of patients. At the later stages of chronic hepatitis C (duration over 5 years) tear production increased only in 15.8% of patients and decreased in 52.6% of patients. Conclusion. In patients with chronic hepatitis C total tear production changes depending on the duration and the severity of infection, which should be considered in the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of ophthalmic diseases in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

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Clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C and severe interferon system suppression

Infekcionnye bolezni ◽

10.20953/1729-9225-2021-2-60-64 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 60-64

Author(s):

Zh.B. Ponezheva ◽

◽

I.V. Mannanova ◽

V.V. Makashova ◽

A.A. Erovichenkov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

T Lymphocytes ◽

Liver Fibrosis ◽

Chronic Hepatitis C ◽

Serum Levels ◽

Control Group ◽

Biochemical Activity ◽

Duration Of Infection ◽

Grade 3

Objective. To identify specific clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and severe interferon (IFN) system suppression. Patients and methods. This study was conducted at the Clinical Department of Infectious Pathology, Research Institute of Epidemiology, Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing. We enrolled and examined 76 patients with confirmed CHC aged 18 to 80 years who had been followed up for at least 3 years. We analyzed the level of IFN-producing T-lymphocytes, IFN status, serum levels of IFN-α, -γ and -λ depending on viral and biochemical activity, and genotype. In addition to that, we evaluated the association between the IFN system parameters and age, duration of infection, genotype, viral load, and stage of liver fibrosis. The control group comprised 30 healthy individuals who had no complaints and no clinical or laboratory changes at the time of examination. Results. We identified 3 grades of IFN system suppression: grade 1–moderate (in 21% of patients), grade 2–mild (inadequate) (in 47% of patients), and grade 3–severe (in 32% of patients). We analyzed clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with grade 3 IFN system suppression and evaluated the IFN system depending on age, duration of infection, genotype, viral and biochemical activity. We found that severe IFN system suppression correlated with duration of infection, stage of liver fibrosis with a tendency to increased levels of T-lymphocytes expressing receptors for IFN-α and IFN-γ (CD118+, CD119+). Key words: chronic hepatitis C, genotype, interferon status

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Blood markers of endothelial dysfunction and their correlation to cerebrovascular reactivity in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.10723 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

pp. e10723

Author(s):

Mirela Pavicic Ivelja ◽

Kresimir Dolic ◽

Leida Tandara ◽

Nikola Perkovic ◽

Antonio Mestrovic ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chronic Hepatitis ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Endothelial Dysfunction ◽

Chronic Hepatitis C ◽

Cerebrovascular Reactivity ◽

Control Group ◽

Hepatitis C Infection ◽

Endothelial Markers ◽

Chronic Hcv Infection ◽

Chronic Hcv

Although liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma are major consequences of hepatitis C (HCV), there has been an increasing number of studies examining extrahepatic manifestations, especially those caused by systemic chronic inflammation and metabolic complications that might predispose HCV patients to atherosclerosis and ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD). The aim of our study was to assess E-selectin, VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and VEGF-A serum levels in patients with chronic HCV infection and to correlate them with cerebrovascular reactivity. A blood sample was taken from eighteen patients with chronic hepatitis C infection and from the same number of healthy blood donors in the control group. The aim was to analyse markers of endothelial dysfunction and to correlate them with cerebrovascular reactivity expressed as breath-holding index (BHI) determined using transcranial color Doppler. The obtained results revealed significant differences between the groups in all endothelial markers except for the E selectin. While the ICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were significantly increased in the hepatitis group, VEGF-A was significantly decreased. A significant reduction of 0.5 (95% CI 0.2, 0.8) in the mean BHI was found in the hepatitis group (mean BHI 0.64) compared to controls (mean BHI 1.10). No significant association between the BHI and any of the endothelial markers was found in the control group, while in the hepatitis group, the scatter plot of ICAM-1 vs BHI suggested that the association might be present. In conclusion, the results of this study confirm an association between a chronic HCV infection and altered cerebrovascular reactivity as well as higher levels of markers of endothelial activation (ICAM-1, VCAM-1) as possible indicators of an increased CVD risk.

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