title: Insulin resistance predicts response to peginterferon-alpha/ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Insulin resistance (IR) might be associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This study aimed to elucidate impact of IR and beta-cell function on the response to peginterferon-alpha (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and thirty patients without overt diabetes were treated with combination therapy with (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin for 24 weeks. The IR and beta-cell function were evaluated by homeostasis model assessment of IR (HOMA-IR) and homeostasis model assessment of beta-cell function (HOMA-beta) before treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HCV genotype, pretreatment HCV RNA level and pretreatment HOMA-IR, but not HOMA-beta, were independent factors associated with sustained virologic response (SVR). In 150 patients with genotype 1b infection, pretreatment HCV RNA level, HOMA-IR and age were independent predictors for SVR. The significantly lower SVR rate in high HOMA-IR patients was observed in 76 patients with high HCV RNA levels (>or=400,000IU/mL) who were defined as 'difficult-to-treat' patients. The mean HOMA-IR of 'difficult-to-treat' patients was significantly lower in 42 sustained responders than in 34 non-responders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IR was associated with SVR to (PEG-IFN)/ribavirin therapy for CHC, especially among 'difficult-to-treat' patients. These findings suggested clinical application of pretreatment HOMA-IR could enable treatment outcome to be predicted and treatment regimens to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Hepatobiliary Division, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, No. 100, Tzyou 1st Rd, Kaohsiung 807, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Jee-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ming-Yen
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Nai-Jen
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Zu-Yau
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shinn-Chern
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ming-Yuh
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Liang-Yen
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-Yu
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wan-Long
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Chuang
authors.forename: Ming-Lung
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000502:physiology; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a