Glucose Tolerance And Insulin Response In Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C

Abstract

Chronic HCV infection has been associated with a variety of extrahepatic disorders, in which either immunological or cytopathic mechanisms are likely to play a roll Accordingly, it is postulated that HCV infection is not only a liver disease but ­ rather a systemic infection that affects other organs of the body. It has been observed that HCV infection is associated with development of DM. The aim of this work is to study whether a -cell dysfunction with decreased insulin release or insulin resistance with decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin or both are present in patients with chronic HCV infection. Our study was conducted on two groups of subjects: GroupI: included 30 patients who were positive for HCV Ab by the third generation ELISA, non-diabetic and had no clinical, laboratory or sonographic evidence of liver cinhosis. Group II: Included :w healthy subjects who were negative for HCV Ab by the third-generation ELISA, non­ diabetic and completely normal liver function tests, as a control group. Those patients were subjected to the following: 1. Full medical history and thorough clinical examination. 2. Laboratory investigations including : • Complete liver function tests. • Kidney function tests.