Vitamin D Deficiency and Its Association with Cirrhosis among Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection: Vitamin D Deficiency and Association with Chronic Hepatitis C Infection

Huma Nosher; Tahira Murtaza Cheema; Iqra Iqbal; Jahangir Yousaf; Syed Mubashir Abbas Rizvi; Javaria Amil; Aneeq Ur Rehman

doi:10.54393/pjhs.v7i3.3816

Authors

Huma Nosher Department of Medicine, Amna Inayat Medical College, Sheikhupura, Pakistan
Tahira Murtaza Cheema Department of Medicine, Amna Inayat Medical College, Sheikhupura, Pakistan
Iqra Iqbal Department of Medicine, Amna Inayat Medical College, Sheikhupura, Pakistan
Jahangir Yousaf Department of Medicine, Amna Inayat Medical College, Sheikhupura, Pakistan
Syed Mubashir Abbas Rizvi Department of Emergency, Primary and Secondary Healthcare, Fatheh Jang, Pakistan
Javaria Amil Department of Medicine, Niazi Medical and Dental College, Sargodha, Pakistan
Aneeq Ur Rehman Department of Health Sciences, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54393/pjhs.v7i3.3816

Keywords:

Vitamin D Deficiency, Chronic Hepatitis C, Cirrhosis, Liver Dysfunction, Hepatic Biomarkers

Abstract

Vitamin D deficiency represents a common metabolic disturbance in chronic liver disorders, with a particularly high prevalence among individuals affected by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Evidence reported that progressive hepatic dysfunction can be linked to the waning levels of vitamin D; the information on South Asian populations is scarce. Objectives: To evaluate the association between deficient serum vitamin D levels and the presence of liver cirrhosis among individuals with HCV infection. Methods: The case-control study involved 162 chronic hepatitis C patients in the Department of Medicine, Kishwar Fazal Teaching Hospital, Lahore. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were taken. The level of vitamin D in serum was determined and categorized based on the severity. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25.0 through suitable tests. Results: The study population had a vitamin D deficiency of 92.0%. Cases of severe vitamin D deficiency were found 30.2 higher in cirrhotic patients than in non-cirrhotic patients (30.2% vs. 14.0%). Severe vitamin D deficiency, female gender, and longer HCV infection were significantly related to cirrhosis. Extremely vitamin-D-deficient patients showed a high concentration of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, elevated serum bilirubin, and decreased serum albumin, which is indicative of severe hepatic dysfunction. Conclusions: In chronic hepatitis C patients, vitamin D deficiency, especially the severe form, is highly correlated with cirrhosis and poor biochemical markers in the patients. These results justify the inclusion of regular screening of vitamin D status in the overall evaluation of patients with chronic HCV infection.

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