Impact of viral hepatitis on apo- and lipoprotein status in blood.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effect of viral hepatitis on serum levels of apo- and lipoproteins in different forms of liver diseases. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred and thirty adult patients and 100 healthy age- and gender-matched control individuals participated in this study. Patients were grouped according to four types of liver disease: acute viral hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis (CAH), cirrhosis of the liver and fulminant hepatic failure. RESULTS Hepatitis B virus, C virus and E virus (HEV) infections were recorded in different combinations in these patients, but viral infections of hepatitis A and D were not seen in any of the patient groups. The results of lipo- and apoprotein analysis showed different patterns. The low-density lipoprotein value was high in the CAH group. In the other three groups, low-density lipoprotein level was comparable to the control value. The high-density lipoprotein level (p = 0.02) was significantly low in all groups except in the cirrhosis group. Apo-A was significantly reduced in the acute viral hepatitis and fulminant hepatic failure groups, whereas Apo-B level was low in the CAH and cirrhosis groups. The lipoprotein (a) level in these groups was low, compared to control. CONCLUSION No apparent relationship was observed between etiological viruses and ensuing changes in lipid/lipoprotein profile..