title: Pegylated interferon plus ribavirin therapy improves pancreatic β-cell function in chronic hepatitis C patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pretreatment insulin resistance (IR) is associated with treatment response to peginterferon plus ribavirin (PegIFN/RBV) combination therapy in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection. However, the impact of PegIFN/RBV therapy on both IR and β-cell function in CHC patients has rarely been investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 277 non-diabetic patients treated with PegIFN-α and weight-based RBV, with 80/80/80 adherence, were recruited. Their IR and β-cell function by homeostasis model assessment model (HOMA-IR and HOMA-%B) before treatment and at 24 week after treatment [end of follow-up (EOF)] was measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A sustained virological response (SVR) was achieved by 79.4% (220/277) of all patients: 63.6% (75/118) of genotype-1 and 91.2% (145/159) of genotype-non-1 patients. There was no significant change of HOMA-IR post-therapy (2.25 ± 2.46 vs 2.04 ± 2.12, P=0.42). By contrast, there was a significant reduction of HOMA-%B of all patients at EOF (122.9 ± 145.2 vs 92.4 ± 73.2, P=0.001), particularly in those responders (119.1 ± 142.1 vs 89.6 ± 70.3, P=0.002). In 80 patients with high baseline HOMA-IR, both HOMA-IR and HOMA-%B decreased significantly at EOF, irrespective of SVR achievement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated pancreatic β-cell function was ameliorated by PegIFN/RBV therapy in CHC patients, particularly in those responders.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors: Jee-Fu
authors: JF
authors: Huang
authors: Chia-Yen
authors: CY
authors: Dai
authors: Ming-Lung
authors: ML
authors: Yu
authors: Chung-Feng
authors: CF
authors: Huang
authors: Ching-I
authors: CI
authors: Huang
authors: Ming-Lun
authors: ML
authors: Yeh
authors: Jeng-Fu
authors: JF
authors: Yang
authors: Nei-Jen
authors: NJ
authors: Hou
authors: Pi-Jung
authors: PJ
authors: Hsiao
authors: Zu-Yau
authors: ZY
authors: Lin
authors: Shinn-Chern
authors: SC
authors: Chen
authors: Shyi-Jang
authors: SJ
authors: Shin
authors: Wan-Long
authors: WL
authors: Chuang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013624:Taiwan; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a