Insulin resistance and liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C infection genotype 3.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a common chronic liver disease worldwide. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and insulin resistance (IR) are the major determinants of fibrosis progression and response to antiviral therapy. The pathogenetic link between IR and chronic HCV infection is complex, and is associated with HCV genotype. Liver steatosis is the most common in the patients infected with genotype 3 virus, possibly due to direct effects of genotype 3 viral proteins. To the contrary, hepatic steatosis in the patients infected with other genotypes is thought to be mostly due to the changes in host metabolism, involving IR. In HCV genotype 3, liver steatosis correlates with viral load, reverts after reaching the sustained virologic response and reoccurs in the relapsers. A therapeutic strategy to improve IR and liver steatosis and subsequently the response to antiviral treatment in these patients is warranted.
Ludovico Abenavoli, Valentina Peta, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Ludovico
L
Abenavoli
Ludovico Abenavoli, Valentina Peta, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Mario
M
Masarone
Ludovico Abenavoli, Valentina Peta, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Valentina
V
Peta
Ludovico Abenavoli, Valentina Peta, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Natasa
N
Milic
Ludovico Abenavoli, Valentina Peta, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Nazarii
N
Kobyliak
Ludovico Abenavoli, Valentina Peta, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Samir
S
Rouabhia
Ludovico Abenavoli, Valentina Peta, Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Marcello
M
Persico
D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015398:Signal Transduction
D000998:Antiviral Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin
Genotype 3; Hepatitis C virus; Insulin resistance; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; Sustained virological response