title: Peripheral insulin resistance during treatment of chronic hepatitis C with peguilated interferon plus ribavirin.
abstract: Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection present higher risk of developing type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the mechanism of this association and the role of antiviral treatment are still unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the use of peguilated interferon and the development of insulin resistance (IR) in these patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  HOMA index was evaluated in 30 HCV-infected patients just before and during the first 6 months of treatment with peguilated interferon plus ribavirin. Anthropometrical parameters and glucose/cholesterol profile were also monitored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No changes in HOMA after 6 months of treatment were observed. Glucose levels decreased but not significantly (P = 0.059). Patients with higher HOMA index after 6 months of treatment also presented higher aminotransferase levels (P = 0.03), higher fat index on computed tomography (P = 0.011), longer time of exposure to the virus (P = 0.021), and a positive smoking history when compared to non-insulin resistant patients (P = 0.045). There was no influence of fibrosis stage on liver biopsy in the insulin-resistance development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No changes in the IR were observed after 6 months of treatment. Insulin resistance is related to the abdominal fat and anthropometrical parameters rather than to the antiviral treatment.
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduation Course in Medicine and Health, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil. viviannemello@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Vivianne
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.forename: Thomaz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Geila
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: Maria Tereza
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ney-Oliveira
authors.forename: Hélio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Braga
authors.forename: César
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Maria Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Schinoni
authors.forename: Marla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cruz
authors.forename: Raymundo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Parana
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a