Study shows that Cholesterol may increase after SVR.

[DoubleDose]

Here is a recent study that indicates successful treatment for HCV may often generate high Cholesterol, and Triglyceride levels.  This is very much in line with the observation by many of us that after SVR we may develop Metabolic Syndrome, along with high blood pressure, etc.  Here is the link:

http://www.hivandhepatitis.com/hep_c/news/2009/100909_a.html

[justme53]

My cholesterol has been low for several years now part of which I attributed to a healthier lifestyle after dx, but it became REALLY low in the last few years...109, 112. Every Dr. or nurse (gastro not included) I saw over the last few years commented on how great it was!
The rest of my lipid panel was ok too until the last year when it all went kaput. LDL's rose, HDL's fell, Blood sugar and Trigs elevated as well as BP.

I'll be interesting to see how it all plays out after tx, especially after losing weight and hopefully keeping it off.

[lapis]

I also read that liver disease can cause cholesterol to be low.  My cholesterol has always been low, in the 160's, and I was very happy about that.  After tx it was around 220 and now, at 6 months post, it is still 202 although my triglycerides were 70.  So I'm waiting to see what will happen here.  Very interesting...

Lapis

[meakea]

I tend to agree with Andiamo.  I'm sure I read somewhere that HCV can cause LOW cholesterol levels so, it stands to reason (in my pea-brain), that getting rid of the HCV inflammation could tend to raise cholesterol levels.  I'm one who has had very, very low cholesterol levels over the past many years so we'll see if, now that I've finished TX, those levels go up.

Rocker, try not to worry about having to take BP meds (if you end up having to take them).  None of us want to take extra meds but BP meds are pretty standard these days, even in the healthiest of people.  I do understand the idea of wanting to be "pill-free" though.

[Andiamo1]

Since the liver is the primary source of cholesterol in our blood, can't we assume that SVR = healthy liver = more cholesterol?  Perhaps the higher cholesterol level is what we would have seen had we not been infected with HCV in the first place.

[FlGuy]

Or maybe the increased incidence of metabolic syndrome should be nameed the 'fat, lazy and ill-fed syndrome' and lifestyle should receive the greatest degree of blame.  I would guess that a lot of people who come out the SVR end of HCV also come down with the Alfred E. Neuman Syndrome (What, Me Worry?) as a contributing factor.

----

The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute recommend that the metabolic syndrome be identified as the presence of three or more of these components:

Elevated waist circumference:
Men — Equal to or greater than 40 inches (102 cm)
Women — Equal to or greater than 35 inches (88 cm)
Elevated triglycerides:
Equal to or greater than 150 mg/dL
Reduced HDL (“good”) cholesterol:
Men — Less than 40 mg/dL
Women — Less than 50 mg/dL
Elevated blood pressure:
Equal to or greater than 130/85 mm Hg
Elevated fasting glucose:
Equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL

[Rockerforlife]

ive somewhere the PI drugs used for AIDS patiets can can extra belly fat,maybe the PI`s used for HCV has the some kind of similar effect on6the fat cells,all i know is im dropping 20 lbs as soon by the end of Nov....i dont want a heart attack.



We must turn to nature itself, to the observations of the body in health and in disease to learn the truth.
- Hippocrates

[smaug48]

Thanks for the intersting study.

"In the retrospective cohort, hepatitis C patients in the treated group who achieved virological response, or HCV clearance, had larger increases in LDL and total cholesterol from baseline than patients without viral clearance. "

So an SVRer's cholesterol and triglyceride levels may rise, but that's because it had been previously 'artificially lowered' by the HCV.  Perhaps the higher levels after SVR are what the levels would have been if the person had never had HCV at all.

smaug

[Rockerforlife]

Triglycerides are the same fat that is on your waist and belly,or body fat.


"Health is worth more than learning"

[Rockerforlife]

Anytime you are on a weight loss diet, expect higher than normal triglycerides.


"Life is not having been told that the man has just waxed the floor."

[Isobella]

I'm waiting to get my latest triglyceride levels....they got really high while I was txing.  

Thanks for the link.

[epiphiny]

Very interesting, thank you so much for that link.  My cholestrol has gone CRAZY since tx.  Prior to that I always had low cholesterol levels.  Hope this means I'm SVR!!!

[Rockerforlife]

No free lunches, eh?...Now i may have go on BP meds for the rest of my life,wonder have much cah il fork over in the next 20  plus years if i need the meds?


"Don't do things to not die, do things to enjoy living. The by-product may be not dying."

[Rockerforlife]

This is all i need to hear,this is proberly why my BP IS on the rise ,ill be getting my Cholesterol, and Triglyceride tests back this week,ill bet they will be way too high.


"The first wealth is health"