Study of cough reflex sensitivity in a group of Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Kronik hepatit C virüs enfeksiyonlu Mısırlı bir hasta grubunda öksürük refleksi duyarlılığı çalışması

Özet

Amaç: The aim of this work was to study the effect of chronic hepatitis C viraemia on cough reflex sensitivity. Gereç ve Yöntem: Cough reflex sensitivity was tested by Capsaicin cough provocation in 57 patients (33.66±6.809 years old [M±SD]) with chronic HCV infection. Patients were divided into 3 subgroups: group I: 22 with normal Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and no evidence of liver cirrhosis on ultrasound, group II: 19 with elevated ALT and active hepatitis but no cirrhosis on liver biopsy (8 on treatment) and group III: 16 with elevated ALT and positive cirrhosis on liver biopsy (6 on treatment). 23 normal age matched subjects were tested as controls. Bulgular: log C5 was significantly lower in the three groups of patients than controls (p 0.05 for both). Females showed significantly lower log C5 values than males in normal controls but not in patients (p 0.05 respectively. Patients on interferon therapy showed a significantly lower log C5 values than untreated patients (p<0.01). In all patients, the relation between viral load (RNA PCR) and provocative concentration of capsaicin was inverse and significant (r=-0.717, p<0.001). Sonuç: Both hepatitis C viraemia and interferon therapy enhance cough sensitivity in chronic hepatitis C patients and more studies are needed to explain how this occurs.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this work was to study the effect of chronic hepatitis C viraemia on cough reflex sensitivity. Material and Method: Cough reflex sensitivity was tested by Capsaicin cough provocation in 57 patients (33.66±6.809 years old [M±SD]) with chronic HCV infection. Patients were divided into 3 subgroups: group I: 22 with normal Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and no evidence of liver cirrhosis on ultrasound, group II: 19 with elevated ALT and active hepatitis but no cirrhosis on liver biopsy (8 on treatment) and group III: 16 with elevated ALT and positive cirrhosis on liver biopsy (6 on treatment). 23 normal age matched subjects were tested as controls. Results: log C5 was significantly lower in the three groups of patients than controls (p<0.05). Patients with liver cirrhosis showed a significantly lower log C5 than those without cirrhosis and normal ALT (p <0.05). No significant difference was found between the two groups with high ALT or the two groups without cirrhosis (p>0.05 for both). Females showed significantly lower log C5 values than males in normal controls but not in patients (p<0.05 and p>0.05 respectively. Patients on interferon therapy showed a significantly lower log C5 values than untreated patients (p<0.01). In all patients, the relation between viral load (RNA PCR) and provocative concentration of capsaicin was inverse and significant (r=-0.717, p<0.001). Conclusion: Both hepatitis C viraemia and interferon therapy enhance cough sensitivity in chronic hepatitis C patients and more studies are needed to explain how this occurs.