Evidence for association between hepatitis C virus seropositivity and coronary artery disease

Abstract

The enrolment of patients was conducted according to previously described criteria.⁴ Our study population included 491 patients (92 females, 399 males), with a mean (SEM) age of 66 (0.5) years and with angiographic documentation of CAD (> 50% stenosis). A control group of 195 patients (8 females, 115 males) with a mean age of 61 (11.6) years was also recruited; these patients were hospitalised at the same institution for reasons other than suspected CAD (that is, valvar heart disease, cardiomyopathy, and hypertensive heart disease) and had angiographically documented normal coronary arteries. At the time of blood sampling, all subjects gave a complete history which included cardiovascular risk factors such as smoking habits, hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidaemia. Each patient was found to be negative for hepatitis B, as evaluated by anti-hepatitis B surface antigen positivity. Patient exclusion criteria were severe liver damage and cirrhosis, acute or chronic inflammatory disease, immunological disease, and history or presence of neoplastic disease. In addition, patients with a stenosis < 50%, a stenosis on a minor vessel, or with atypical chest pain were excluded from the study.