Essential hypertension and chronic viral hepatitis

Abstract Objective Both arterial hypertension and chronic hepatitis are common disorders. The relationship between arterial pressure and liver cirrhosis has been extensively studied, but no studies are available in chronic hepatitis (CH). Recently, a few studies have reported that treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), commonly used in arterial hypertension, reduce hepatic fibrosis in patients with viral CH and in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. This study was aimed at comparing the evolution of post-viral CH in patients with/without concomitant essential hypertension. Methods Two sets of observations were carried out: (a) a cross-sectional cohort study of 95 patients with viral CH, to compare the severity of histological and biochemical data at diagnosis, in relation to pharmacologically treated essential hypertension, and (b) a retrospective study with the observation of 254 patients with CH of viral etiology, followed up from 2 to 20 years, to establish the natural history of viral CH in relation to treated essential hypertension. Results In the cross-sectional analysis, patients with treated hypertension had a significantly older age at diagnosis of CH (51.4 ± 8.4 years vs. 46.2 ± 12.2 in normotensive; P < 0.001) and histological evidence of less severe necro-inflammatory liver damage. ALT levels were also lower (109.8 ± 62.5 U/L vs. 166.0 ± 169.5 in normotensive; P < 0.001) as were endothelin-1 levels (0.74 ± 0.97 vs. 1.77 ± 1.51 fmol/mL; P < 0.001). The retrospective study confirmed an older age at diagnosis in patients with treated hypertension (48.7 ± 9.8 vs. 41.9 ± 11.8 years; P < 0.001) and lower death rates (2.2% vs. 11%; P < 0.05). Conclusions The evolution of post-viral CH seems to be less severe in subjects with essential hypertension, possibly in relation to treatment with antihypertensive drugs.