Cardiac Disorder in Chronic Hepatitis C

• Published in: International journal of cardiovascular sciences Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 283 - 289
• Main Authors: Rezende, André Gustavo da Silva, Lopes, Edmundo Pessoa, Markman-Filho, Brivaldo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia 2019
• Subjects: CARDIAC & CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEMS; Cardiomiopathies; Arrhytmias, Cardiac; Drug - Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Drug Interactions; Liver Cirrhosis; Hepatitis C, Chronic
• ISSN: 2359-5647; 2359-5647
• DOI: 10.5935/2359-4802.20190011

Abstract Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) has a high prevalence in the world. In addition to hepatic complications with cirrhosis in about 20% of patients and high risk for hepatocarcinoma, extrahepatic manifestations may also occur. Cardiac involvement in patients with CHC is associated with several factors, such as increased risk for coronary artery disease, primary cardiomyopathies, or hemodynamic and electrophysiological changes observed in liver cirrhosis. Furthermore, antiviral treatment may, in rare cases, causes cardiovascular adverse effects. Cardiac arrhythmias are the main form of clinical presentation, and, often, markers of poor prognosis in individuals with advanced liver disease. Although some mechanisms that justify these changes have already been reported, many questions remain unanswered, especially about the true involvement of the hepatitis C virus in the genesis of primary cardiac abnormalities, and the risk factors for cardiac-related complications of antiviral treatment.