title: Lipid and carbohydrate parameters in children with chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  HCV chronic infection still presents a very serious epidemiological and clinical problem. Apart from its cytopathic effect on liver parenchyma, its detrimental effect on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism has recently been emphasized. The aim of the study was to assess lipid and carbohydrate parameters in children with chronic HCV-related hepatitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study comprised 41 children with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) aged between 7 and 18 years, and 30 healthy controls. The anthropometric measurements of the subjects were taken, and, after overnight fasting, serum glucose, insulin, total bilirubin, AST, ALT, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were investigated. The HOMA IR insulin resistance index was also calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The values for mean body mass index (BMI), glucose, insulin, bilirubin, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL/C index and HOMA IR levels did not differ significantly between the two groups. AST and ALT were significantly higher in the control group. The serum levels of cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol showed a tendency toward lower values in the control group. We found positive correlation between serum levels of insulin and HOMA IR with staging (respectively r=0.336, P < 0.04 and r=0.386, P < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In children with CHC and a relatively short duration of the disease, lipid and glucose disorders are not observed. Correlations between insulin and HOMA IR with staging suggest the ability of HCV to contribute to fibrosis through interference with glucose metabolism.
authors: III Department of Pediatrics, The Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Wiśniewska-Ligier
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Konopka
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Woźniakowska-Gęsicka
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D001706:Biopsy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000473:pathology; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000378:metabolism; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D002241:Carbohydrates; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D005947:Glucose