Study ofr Iron Stores in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients and the Relationship between Iron Stores and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in these Patients

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) comprises a syndrome of common metabolic

disorders that share the phenotype of inapproptiate hyperglycemia due to either an absolute deficiency of insulin secretion or a reduction in its biologic effectiveness or both (The American Diabetes Association, 2005).

Chronic hepatitis C Virus infection is a metabolic syndrome rather

than a simple viral infection (Doung et al., 2001). • Both hepatitis C virus infection (I-ICY) and diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) are chronic conditions with significant morbidity and mortality,

there is association between the two diseases (Maryane et al., 2006).

Chronic I-ICY infection may affect the iron profile either by increase or decrease.

Increased iron stores is a common finding in chronic HCV infection , iron overload may lead to diabetes mellitus through the following: • - iron influences insulin action. iron interfere with insulin inhibition of glucose production by the liver, hepatic extraction and metabolism of

insulin is reduced with increasing iron stores leading to peripheral hyperi n sui inem ia.

iron is a transitional metal that catalyze the conversiOn of poorly reactive free radicals into highly active free radicals and these radicals can attack cell membrane lipids, proteins ,and DNA and cause tissue damage.

- Iron deposition in muscle decreases glucose uptake because of muscle damage, also iron accumulation interfere with hepatic insulin