The role played by gender in viral hepatitis. (August 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bernabucci, Veronica; Villa, Erica
• Is Part Of: Scandinavian journal of clinical & laboratory investigation. Volume 74(2014)Supplement 244
• Page Start: 90
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2014-08
• Subjects: Menopause -- reproductive phases -- hepatitis C -- interferon therapy -- hormone replacement therapy -- Boceprevir; Clinical biochemistry -- Periodicals; Physiology, Pathological -- Periodicals; Physiology, Experimental -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Research -- Periodicals; Clinical medicine -- Periodicals; 616.0072
• DOI: 10.3109/00365513.2014.936695
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0036-5513

Abstract

Abstract: Although not a classical target for estrogens, the liver is a target for their action and is sensitive to their deprivation. The occurrence of menopause is accompanied by a chain of events depending on the progressive estrogen deprivation that eventually leads to a shift from a low inflammatory to a high inflammatory state. This has a series of well-known consequences in many different organs and tissues (bone, heart, brain, body fat etc.) among which the liver is particularly interesting. The consequences are extremely evident in HCV-positive women in whom HCV infection and menopause cooperate to induce higher necro-inflammatory features, increased hepatic steatosis and eventually faster progression of fibrosis. In addition, menopause is the strongest negative factor for sustained viral response (SVR) in HCV-positive females, especially HCV genotype 1 (in whom menopause was the only independent factor for failure of antiviral therapy). This suggests that HCV-positive women should be treated early during fertile age to obtain maximal response to antiviral therapy.