title: [A virological response study of serum leptin level and insulin resistance on the antivirus effect in patients with chronic hepatitis C].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the serum leptin level and insulin resistance on sustained virological response (SVR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C and to evaluate whether serum leptin level and insulin resistance are independent risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty chronic hepatitis C patients were treated with interferon (alpha-2a) 5 MU and ribavirin 1.0 g for 24 weeks. The fasting serum leptin, insulin, glucose, HCV RNA load, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR: homeostasis model of assessment) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Statistical methods used were univariate analyses and multivariable regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 40 patients, 23 patients (57.5%) had a sustained virological response and 17 patients (42.5%) had a non-sustained virological response. Patients with a sustained virological response had lower serum leptin, HOMA-IR and BMI. Their SVR was associated with age, HCV RNA loads, serum leptin level, and insulin resistance, when analyzed with univariate analyses. SVR was not associated with sex, ALT, or AST. With multivariable regression analyses, serum leptin level and insulin resistance were found to be independent prediction factors for SVR in chronic hepatitis C patients with antivirus treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum leptin level and insulin resistance were associated with SVR in chronic hepatitis C patients; they were independent prediction factors for SVR.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Infectious Diseases, First Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical College, Xinxiang 453100, China. qwfyzhubin@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xin-Hong
authors.initials: XH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Zhi-Yun
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Jiang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin