Role of Non-hepatic Medical Comorbidity and Functional Limitations in Predicting Mortality in Patients with HCV.

Background: Medical comorbidities and functional status limitations are determinants of mortality in many chronic diseases. The extent to which survival in the rapidly aging cohort of patients with HCV is affected by these competing causes of mortality remains unclear.

Aim: We sought to determine the effect of medical/functional comorbidities on survival after adjusting for liver disease severity in a cohort of patients with HCV infection.

Coffee and Caffeine Are Associated With Decreased Risk of Advanced Hepatic Fibrosis Among Patients With Hepatitis C.

Background & Aims: Coffee or caffeine has been proposed to protect against hepatic fibrosis, but few data are available on their effects in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of veterans with chronic HCV infection to evaluate the association between daily intake of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee, tea, and soda, and level of hepatic fibrosis, based on the FibroSURE test (BioPredictive, Paris, France) (F0-F3, mild [controls] vs. F3/F4-F4, advanced).

Genetic Variants in Interleukin-28B Are Associated with Diabetes and Diabetes-Related Complications in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Infection.

Background: Few studies have shown that host interleukin-28B (IL28B) genetic polymorphisms are associated with insulin resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. However, the clinical relevance of this relationship is unclear.

Aims: We examined the association between IL28B genotype for rs12980275 and risk of type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications.

Sex hormone pathway gene polymorphisms are associated with risk of advanced hepatitis C-related liver disease in males.

Background: Males have excess advanced liver disease and cirrhosis risk including from chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection though the reasons are unclear.

Goal: To examine the role variants in genes involved in androgen and estrogen biosynthesis and metabolism play in HCV-related liver disease risk in males.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study evaluating single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 16 candidate genes involved in androgen and estrogen ligand and receptor synthesis and risk of advanced hepatic fibrosis (F3/F4-F4) and inflammation (A2/A3-A3).

WNT signaling pathway gene polymorphisms and risk of hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in HCV-infected patients.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C infection is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a highly lethal malignancy with rapidly increasing prevalence in the United States. Little is known about genetic variations and HCC risk. This study aimed to determine if genetic variation in Wnt signaling pathway genes are associated with advanced hepatic fibrosis and inflammation risk in a hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected population.

Many patients with interleukin 28B genotypes associated with response to therapy are ineligible for treatment because of comorbidities.

Background & Aims: Interleukin (IL)-28B (interferon-λ 3) genotype is the strongest predictor of response of patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection to antiviral therapy. However, patients with HCV infection often have physical or mental comorbidities that contraindicate or complicate treatment, regardless of their genotype. The potential role of IL28B genotype within the context of patients' clinical and social environment is therefore unclear.

Dietary fructose intake and severity of liver disease in hepatitis C virus-infected patients.

Background And Goals: Dietary fructose intake in the United States has been increasing, and fructose intake has been associated with the metabolic syndrome and hepatic steatosis. This study aimed to determine whether dietary fructose intake is associated with advanced hepatic fibrosis and inflammation in an hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected male population.

Study: We conducted a cross-sectional study of HCV-infected male veterans.

Racial differences in the association between adiposity measures and the risk of hepatitis C-related liver disease.

Background: African Americans have lower reported likelihood of hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis than whites. It is unknown whether relative differences in the distribution of adipose tissue, lean mass, and other anthropometric measurements may explain these observed interethnic differences in disease risk.

Aim: : To evaluate the association between anthropometric measurements and advanced liver disease in a cross-sectional study of African American and white male veterans.

Finasteride and methadone use and risk of advanced hepatitis C related liver disease.

Aim: We evaluated the association between two medications that alter bioavailable androgen levels, finasteride and methadone, and risk of advanced HCV-related liver disease.

Background: Males have strikingly greater cirrhosis risk across disease etiologies, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study in HCV+ male veterans, we determined medication use by up to 15-year medical record review, and hepatic pathology by the FibroSURE-ActiTest (F3/F4-F4, advanced vs.

Higher serum testosterone is associated with increased risk of advanced hepatitis C-related liver disease in males.

Unlabelled: Males have strikingly increased risk of advanced liver disease. However, the association between testosterone and risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related advanced liver disease is unknown. We performed a cross-sectional study in male veterans with chronic HCV.