Statins decrease the risk of decompensation in hepatitis B virus– and hepatitis C virus–related cirrhosis: A population‐based study

Fu‐Ming Chang, Yen‐Po Wang, Hui‐Chu Lang, Chia‐Fen Tsai, Ming‐Chih Hou, Fa‐Yauh Lee, Ching‐Liang Lu – 20 March 2017 – Statin use decreases the risk of decompensation and mortality in patients with cirrhosis due to hepatitis C virus (HCV). Whether this beneficial effect can be extended to cirrhosis in the general population or cirrhosis due to other causes, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection or alcohol, remains unknown. Statin use also decreases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic HBV and HCV infection.

Hepatitis C virus–induced CCL5 secretion from macrophages activates hepatic stellate cells

Reina Sasaki, Pradip B. Devhare, Robert Steele, Ranjit Ray, Ratna B. Ray – 20 March 2017 – Hepatitis C virus (HCV)–mediated chronic liver disease is a serious health problem around the world and often causes fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanism of liver disease progression during HCV infection is still unclear, although inflammation is believed to be an important player in disease pathogenesis. We previously reported that macrophages including Kupffer cells exposed to HCV induce proinflammatory cytokines.

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