Many patients with hepatitis C chronic infection (HCV+ patients) experience symptoms (fatigue, dyspnea) not proportional to the liver involvement and resemble symptoms of heart failure (HF). To our knowledge, no study evaluated at the same time serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in HCV+ patients. Circulating NT-proBNP and TNF-alpha were assayed in 60 HCV+ patients, and in 60 sex- and age-matched controls. HCV+ patients showed significantly higher mean NT-proBNP and TNF-alpha levels than controls (P < 0.003). By defining high NT-proBNP level as a value higher than 125 pg/mL (the single cutoff point for outpatients under 75 years of age), 28% of HCV+ and 7% controls had high NT-proBNP (chi-square; P < 0.002). With a cutoff point of 900 pg/mL (that should be used for ruling in HF in patients age 50-75; such as the patients in our study), 3% HCV+ and 0 controls had high NT-proBNP. In conclusion, the study demonstrates high levels of circulating NT-proBNP and TNF-alpha in HCV+ patients. The increase of NT-proBNP may indicate the presence of a subclinical cardiac dysfunction. Further prospective studies quantifying symptoms and correlating these with echocardiographic parameters are needed to confirm this association.

N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Both Are Increased in Patients With Hepatitis C / A., Antonelli; Ferri, Clodoveo; Ferrari, Silvia Martina; S., Marchi; N., De Bortoli; D., Sansonno; C., Chiavacci; E., Ferrannini; P., Fallahi. - In: JOURNAL OF INTERFERON AND CYTOKINE RESEARCH. - ISSN 1079-9907. - ELETTRONICO. - 30:5(2010), pp. 359-363. [10.1089/jir.2009.0059]

N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Both Are Increased in Patients With Hepatitis C

FERRI, Clodoveo;FERRARI, Silvia Martina;
2010

Abstract

Many patients with hepatitis C chronic infection (HCV+ patients) experience symptoms (fatigue, dyspnea) not proportional to the liver involvement and resemble symptoms of heart failure (HF). To our knowledge, no study evaluated at the same time serum levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) in HCV+ patients. Circulating NT-proBNP and TNF-alpha were assayed in 60 HCV+ patients, and in 60 sex- and age-matched controls. HCV+ patients showed significantly higher mean NT-proBNP and TNF-alpha levels than controls (P < 0.003). By defining high NT-proBNP level as a value higher than 125 pg/mL (the single cutoff point for outpatients under 75 years of age), 28% of HCV+ and 7% controls had high NT-proBNP (chi-square; P < 0.002). With a cutoff point of 900 pg/mL (that should be used for ruling in HF in patients age 50-75; such as the patients in our study), 3% HCV+ and 0 controls had high NT-proBNP. In conclusion, the study demonstrates high levels of circulating NT-proBNP and TNF-alpha in HCV+ patients. The increase of NT-proBNP may indicate the presence of a subclinical cardiac dysfunction. Further prospective studies quantifying symptoms and correlating these with echocardiographic parameters are needed to confirm this association.
2010
30
5
359
363
N-Terminal Pro-Brain Natriuretic Peptide and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha Both Are Increased in Patients With Hepatitis C / A., Antonelli; Ferri, Clodoveo; Ferrari, Silvia Martina; S., Marchi; N., De Bortoli; D., Sansonno; C., Chiavacci; E., Ferrannini; P., Fallahi. - In: JOURNAL OF INTERFERON AND CYTOKINE RESEARCH. - ISSN 1079-9907. - ELETTRONICO. - 30:5(2010), pp. 359-363. [10.1089/jir.2009.0059]
A., Antonelli; Ferri, Clodoveo; Ferrari, Silvia Martina; S., Marchi; N., De Bortoli; D., Sansonno; C., Chiavacci; E., Ferrannini; P., Fallahi
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/646407
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