Hepatitis C virus and glucose and lipid metabolism.
The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. Its spectrum of severity, however, varies widely, as does its rate of progression towards cirrhosis. This depends on several host-related cofactors, such as age, gender, alcohol consumption, over weight and co-infections. The objective of this review is to discuss two of these cofactors: steatosis and insulin resistance. Although both may occur independently of HCV, a direct role of HCV infection in their pathogenesis has been reported. Whereas the virus-induced steatosis does not seem to have major clinical consequences, the so-called 'metabolic' steatosis and underlying insulin resistance may not only modify the clinical and histological course of chronic hepatitis C, but may also influence the response to interferon alpha-based therapy.
Alaei
M
M
Divisions of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland.
Negro
F
F
D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors