Kurzfassung

Chronic HCV infection is a slow progressive disease leading to liver fibrosis development and cirrhosis with a high morbidity and mortality from end-stage liver disease. Many patients with chronic hepatitis C suffer from extra-hepatic manifestations, e.g. cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, renal insufficiency, cerebro- and cardiovascular events. Van der Meer et al. have recently shown that chronic hepatitis C increases not only the liver-associated but also the non-liver associated mortality.
One...Chronic HCV infection is a slow progressive disease leading to liver fibrosis development and cirrhosis with a high morbidity and mortality from end-stage liver disease. Many patients with chronic hepatitis C suffer from extra-hepatic manifestations, e.g. cryoglobulinemic vasculitis, renal insufficiency, cerebro- and cardiovascular events. Van der Meer et al. have recently shown that chronic hepatitis C increases not only the liver-associated but also the non-liver associated mortality.
One reason for the increased risk for cerebro- and cardiovascular events seems to be a causal relationship between HCV and atherosclerosis due to a virus induced stimulation of the immune response and chronic subclinical inflammation.
Aim: In this pilot project we want to investigate if a successful interferon-free antiviral therapy ameliorates surrogate markers for cardiovascular risk.
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