title: Study of prevalence and effects of insulin resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 4.
abstract: There is strong epidemiological evidence linking hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and diabetes. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of insulin resistance in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV genotype 4 infection, to assess factors associated with insulin resistance and to test the impact of insulin resistance on outcomes of treatment with pegylated interferon/ribavirin. Insulin resistance [homeostasis model assessmentinsulin resistance (HOMA-IR) score > 3.0] was detected in 31 of 100 nondiabetic patients. The relationship between elevated HOMA-IR and baseline viral load and degree of fibrosis was statistically significant (r = 0.218 and r = 0.223). Follow-up of patients with complete early virological response until the end of treatment showed a statistically significant decrease in HOMA-IR score. Out of 29 liver tissue sections examined, 14 had a low level of expression of insulin receptor type 1 by immunohistochemical studies. This study confirms that insulin resistance affects treatment outcome, and thus HOMA-IR testing before initiation of therapy may be a cost-effective tool.
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: A F
authors: AF
authors: Amer
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Baddour
authors: Department of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: M A
authors: MA
authors: Elshazly
authors: Department of Pathology, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Fadally
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: N F
authors: NF
authors: Hanafi
authors: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors: S L
authors: SL
authors: Assar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D007372:Interferons / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007372:Interferons