title: Effect of interferon therapy on glucose metabolism in children with chronic hepatitis B.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of interferon (IFN)-alpha treatment on glucose metabolism in children with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Forty children with CHB received IFN 10 MU/m2 for six months. Oral glucose tolerance test, anti-insulin and anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody, fasting plasma C-peptide and insulin (FPI), postprandial insulin, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HOMA-cell, and glucose/insulin ratio (G/I) were measured before and after treatment. The last four parameters were also evaluated in healthy controls (n=42). In patients, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HOMA-IR levels were significantly lower than in controls (p = 0.001 and p = 0.020, respectively). There was a strong correlation between degree of liver disease and FPG. Two patients had hyperinsulinemia. HOMA-IR was suppressed in 7 patients enough to indicate increased sensitivity. FPI of 13 patients and HOMA-cell of 9 patients were lower than the minimum level of controls, features compatible with beta-cell hypofunction. Frequency of glucose metabolism abnormalities was not different before and after therapy. After therapy, only 1 patient developed anti-GAD antibody, and FPI of 8 children and HOMA-cell level of 9 children were lower than the minimum level of controls. Hyperinsulinemia was persistent in the same patients. We demonstrated that HBV-infected children had insulin sensitivity; however, no adverse effects of IFN on glucose homeostasis were seen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Ankara University Faculty of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zarife
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kuloğlu
authors.forename: Merih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Berberoğlu
authors.forename: Aydan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kansu
authors.forename: Fulya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Demirçeken
authors.forename: Tümay
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doğanci
authors.forename: Gönül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ocal
authors.forename: Nurten
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Girgin
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D016898:Interferon-alpha