P.027 Aortic Stiffness is Increased in Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Seropositivity

Recent data suggest that chronic systemic inflammation impairs vascular function and plays a critical role in cardiovascular disease. Aortic stiffness and wave reflections are independent markers and prognosticators of cardiovascular risk. The present study was undertaken to assess whether chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) affects aortic stiffness and wave reflections. We determined aortic stiffness and wave reflections in 26 consecutive patients (mean age: 49±16 yrs, 9M/17F) positive for HCV infection and 14 patients (mean age: 52±11 yrs, 9M/5F) with HBV infection, who had never been treated with interferon. 40 healthy individuals were recruited to compare each of the two subgroups and they were matched for age, gender, body-mass index and risk factors. Aortic stiffness was evaluated with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) and wave reflections with augmentation index (AIx) of the aortic pressure waveform. Patients with HCV infection had higher carotid-femoral PWV than controls, indicating increased aortic stiffness (7.5±1.3 vs. 6.7±1.3 m/s, P < 0.05), while AIx did not differ (25±15 vs. 27±15