The Effects of HCV Infection on Serum Lipid Profile in Hemodialysis Patients

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to investigate effects of hepatitis C virus infection on serum lipid profile in
hemodialyzed patients.
 

METHOD: The serum lipid profile was determined in 108 patients who had been on regular
hemodialysis for at least two months. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL (high
density lipoprotein), VLDL (very low density lipoprotein) and LDL (low density lipoprotein) levels
were compared between two groups.
 

RESULTS: The study included 55 HCV-negative (%58 male) and 53 HCV-positive (%64 male)
hemodialysed patients. Mean age was 43±16 years in the HCV-negative group and 43±14 years in the
HCV-positive group. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to
age and gender. Mean duration of HD was 20±16 months in the HCV (-) group and 50±32 months in
the HCV (+) group. Mean hemodialysis time was longer in HCV (+) patients than HCV (-) patients
(p<0.0001). Mean serum TC (129±27 vs 148±42 mg/dL; p=0.006), TG (137±55 vs 162±64 mg/dL;
p=0.032), and HDL levels (32±11 vs 36±11 mg/dL; p=0.036) were significantly lower in the HCVpositive group than in the HCV-negative group. Mean serum LDL and VLDL levels were similar in
the two groups. Although we did not find a statistical difference between serum lipid levels and ALT levels; there was a statistically significant correlation between serum AST level and TC, TG, and VLDL-c levels. Serum TC, VLDL levels were
significantly higher in patients with AST >30 iu/dL than in patients with AST <30 iu/dL.
 

CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that HCV infection is associated with lower TC, TG and VLDL-c levels in hemodialysed patients. An
increase in serum AST levels was associated with a decrease in lipid levels.