PP.09.16] INFLUENCE OF CHRONIC HEPATITIS C AND HYPERTENSION IN THE ARTERIAL DISTENSIBILITY

Abstract

Objective: The assessment of arterial distensibility is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease. Distensibility decreases with age and increases with hypertension. The objectives of this study were to evaluate these parameters in patients with normotensive (NHC) and hypertensive chronic hepatitis c (HTHC) compared with hypertensive (HT) patients and controls (C). Design and method: We study the influence of hepatitis C and hypertension in aortic distensibility. The groups were matched by sex and age. Sphygmocor® was used for the determination of cfPWV (carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity) and central Augmentation Index% (AIx). Blood pressure (BP), ambulatory blood pressure (ABPM), body mass index (BMI), lipid profile (LP) and serum creatinine (SC) were also evaluated. The model was two-ways ANOVA, with p < 0.01 (two-tailed). Results: Our sample was 40 patients with hepatitis, 20 HTHC and 20 NHC, which were compared with 20 HT and 20 C. Age, sex, BMI, PL and CS did not present significant differences between the groups. Hypertensive patients presented significantly higher blood pressure values than ABPM and ABP, and the difference between those with and without hepatitis was not significant. The values of cfPWV (C: 6.9 + 1.1, HT: 10.09 + 1.73, NHC: 8.02 + 1.3, HTHC: 12.8 + 2.17) showed significant statistical differences in Hypertension (p < 0.01) and liver disease (p < 0.01). The values of AIx (C: 18.0 + 10.5, HT: 26.0 + 9.5, NHC: 20.1 + 10.3, HTHC: 29.2 + 10.4) significantly increased in relation to hypertensive disease (p < 0.01) and liver disease (p < 0.01). Conclusions: This study suggests that arterial distensibility is increased in arterial hypertension, as well as in liver disease due to chronic hepatitis c, both of which function as factors that cumulatively aggravate arterial injury. We can also verify that patients with chronic hepatitis c already have parameters of arterial lesion.