P4.30 ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION

Background/aims: The impact of chronic hepatitis C (HCV) virus infection on atherosclerosis is controversial. In this pilot clinical study, we examined whether HCV patients significantly differed in markers of subclinical atherosclerosis compared to patients with alcohol-related chronic liver disease. Methods: We enrolled 21 consecutive adult patients with HCV and 11 patients with alcohol-related chronic liver disease after detoxification from alcohol. Common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and brachial artery flow mediated vasodilation (FMD) by ultrasonography and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) by applanation tonometry were measured in all participants by a single trained operator, who was blind to clinical features of participants. Results: Compared with those with alcohol-related liver disease, patients with HCV had markedly lower FMD (4.57±1.50 vs. 9.84±3.60%, p