الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease of the large arteries
which requires a lipid component (hypercholesterolemia) and an
inflammatory component for its development and progression.
Many studies have shown that atherosclerosis is an inflammatory
disease of the injured vascular walls and does not result simply from the
accumulation of lipids. Thus, acute phase reactants such as fibrinogen, Creactive
protein (CRP) and platelets are recognized as new risk factors for
atherosclerosis.
The healthy liver plays an essential role in production of many
coagulation factors including fibrinogen, lipoprotein particles as well as
some inflammatory cytokines including CRP, which are risk factors for
atherosclerosis.
Hepatitis C virus is a major public health problem in Egypt
specially genotype 4. Egypt has the highest world wide prevalence, with
9% country wide and up to 50% in certain rural areas.
Some studies have reported a higher prevalence of cardiovascular
risk factors, carotid atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease among
individuals with hepatitis C infection.
In contrast, other studies have reported no association between
hepatitis C infection and cardiovascular risk factors, carotid
atherosclerosis and coronary heart diseas.
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SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
The association between hepatitis C virus infection and CAD is
less clear. A small number of reported studies have shown conflicting
results; some have reported no association between HCV infection and
CAD, where as others have reported an increased risk or an increase in
measures of subclinical atherosclerosis.
The increased risk of CAD in HCV infected persons may be
related to a differential level of cytokines, which are markers of
inflammation, thrombosis, and endothelial dysfunction.
Chronic HCV infection could be considered a chronic
inflammatory process that might play a role in the pathogenesis of carotid
arterial remodeling.
Aim of study:
This study hade been designed to evaluate the relation ship
between chronic HCV infection and atherosclerotic changes in Egyptian
patients.
Patients and methods
The present study was conducted on 40 chronic HCV patients as
cases and 10 healthy persons as controls.
In this study we excluded any patients with diabetes mellitus,
obesity (BMI 30), HBsAg + Ve and hepatocellular carcinoma as other
factors can affect atherosclerosis development other than HCV infection.