Insulin resistance is common in patients with predominantly genotype 3 chronic hepatitis C.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with insulin resistance or diabetes mellitus, but data are controversial on the role of different HCV genotypes in causing insulin resistance. We have designed a study aimed at determining insulin resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis C with predominant genotype 3. Insulin resistance was measured using a homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance in 85 non-diabetic, non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C (genotype 3 = 54). The results were compared with 38 biopsy-proven patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and 25 age- and body mass index-matched healthy volunteers. Patients with chronic hepatitis C had a higher fasting insulin and homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance values than healthy volunteers (P = 0.0001). A large number of patients with chronic hepatitis C showed evidence of insulin resistance than healthy controls [53 (62.3%) vs. 4 (16%), respectively] (P < 0.0001). Of the various risk factors studied for insulin resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis C, higher waist (P = 0.010) and higher serum triglycerides (P = 0.002) were found to correlate with HOMA-insulin resistance. There was no difference in insulin resistance amongst patients with genotype 1 or 3, respectively. Based on these results, we conclude that insulin resistance is common among non-diabetic, non-cirrhotic patients with chronic hepatitis C. A majority of these patients had genotype 3, but there was no difference in insulin resistance between genotype 1 and genotype 3 patients.
Duseja
Ajay
A
Department of Hepatology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. ajayduseja@yahoo.co.in
Dhiman
R K
RK
Chawla
Yogesh
Y
Thumburu
Kiran K
KK
Kumar
Amit
A
Das
Ashim
A
Bhadada
Sanjay
S
Bhansali
Anil
A
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006487:Hemostasis; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D014280:Triglycerides