[Relationship between iron stores and diabetes mellitus in patients infected by hepatitis C virus: a case-control study].
BACKGROUND
To investigate whether the high prevalence of diabetes observed in patients infected by the hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated to iron stores.


METHODS
Serum ferritin levels were determined in 123 patients infected by HCV (55 diabetic and 68 non-diabetic).


RESULTS
Serum ferritin concentrations were higher in diabetic than in non-diabetic patients (205 ng/ml [14-861] vs. 58 ng/ml [15-494]; p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Serum ferritin levels are related with the presence of diabetes in patients infected by HCV.
Hernández
C
C
Sección de Endocrinología, Hospital General Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona. crhdez@hg.vhebron.es
Genescà
J
J
Ignasi Esteban
J
J
García
L
L
Simó
R
R
D001706:Biopsy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012737:Sex Factors
D005293:Ferritins; D007501:Iron