• Adam R Poliwczak, Jolanta Białkowska, Joanna Woźny, Marzena Koziróg, Agnieszka Bała, and Maciej Jabłkowski.
• Department of Human Physiology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
• Arch Med Sci. 2020 Jan 1; 16 (5): 1031-1039.

IntroductionCardiovascular diseases are ranked as the third cause of mortality among people infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), but the relationship of infection with cardiovascular risk remains disputable. We have focused on the comprehensive use of parameters obtainable during long-term electrocardiographic (ECG) Holter monitoring.Material And MethodsHeart rate variability and turbulence (HRV and HRT), deceleration/acceleration capacity (DC/AC), corrected QT interval (QTc) and late potential (LP) were used. 36 persons were included, and 30 healthy subjects formed a control group. All were submitted to 24-hour Holter ECG-monitoring.ResultsThe studied groups were not statistically significantly different with regards to basic anthropometric parameters. Statistically significantly higher medium and maximum heart rhythm and aminotransferase activities were recorded in patients with hepatitis C. The HRV parameters r-MSSD, p50NN, HF, and absolute DC/AC values were significantly lower in the subjects with hepatitis C than those in the control group. The QTc interval, measured for nocturnal hours, was also significantly longer in that group. There were no differences in the albumin level or basic echocardiographic parameters, including left ventricle ejection fraction. Nor was there any difference in the HRT parameters, or LP. The most interesting observation was the positive correlation among the number of viral RNA copies and DC, and LF.ConclusionsWe confirmed the presence of autonomic disorders with prevalence of sympathetic system activity and prolonged QTc interval in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Those parameters significantly correlated with infection intensity. Our results suggest that HCV infection could be an independent cardiovascular risk factor, not associated with the lipid profile. Further prospective studies are needed.Copyright: © 2020 Termedia & Banach.

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