Effects of long-term interferon-alpha treatment on glucose tolerance in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
Interferon-a has been reported to acutely induce insulin resistance and glucose intolerance. The effects of long-term treatment with interferon-a on glucose metabolism remain unclear.


METHODS
Thirty-two Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C were given interferon-a (6x10(6)U/day) daily for 2 weeks and thereafter 3 times weekly up to 6 months. The patients received a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test before the treatment. Fifteen patients also had an intravenous glucose tolerance test for an assessment of insulin sensitivity with Bergman's minimal model. These tests were repeated 3 months after the treatment.


RESULTS
Insulin sensitivity was not affected by the treatment (5.7+/-3.8 vs 5.2+/-3.8 10(-4) x min(-1) x mU(-1) x l , not significant) and a statistically significant but minimum decrease in area under the curve of plasma glucose (1012+/-332 vs 928+/-282 mmol x l(-1) x min, p<0.01) in a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was noted. Acute insulin response to intravenous glucose tolerance tests (214+/-275 vs 294+/-334 mU x l(-1) x min, p<0.05) increased slightly.


CONCLUSIONS
Contrary to the known acute metabolic effects, interferon-a therapy for 3 months in patients with chronic hepatitis C did not have deleterious effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance.
Ito
Y
Y
Department of Internal Medicine, Matsunami General Hospital, Kasamatsu, Gifu, Japan.
Takeda
N
N
Ishimori
M
M
Akai
A
A
Miura
K
K
Yasuda
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000379:methods; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016898:Interferon-alpha