Islet Cell Antibodies and its Relation to Diabetes Mellitus in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis B and C

Abstract

A significantly increased rate of diabetes in patients with HCV related cirrhosis, compared with other causes of cirrhosis, may suggest that hepatitis virus infection has some etiopathogenic role in the development of diabetes. Discovery of an increased incidence of diabetes in the general population among persons with HCV infection and less severe liver disease might suggest alternate mechanisms, such as an • HCV-related autoimmune process.

In this study, 77 subjects were included and were composed of 58 male (75%) and 19 females (25%). Their ages ranged from 20 years to 52 years. Subjects were classified into two groups: o Group 1 included 40 patients with chronic HCV infection. Group 1 was subdivided into two groups: (Group A); patients with HCV and diabetes mellitus (n=20) and control group (Group Ac); patients with HCV without diabetes (n=20). o Group 2 included 37 patients with chronic HBV infection. Group 2 was subdivided into two groups: (Group B); patients with HBV and diabetes mellitus (n=20) and control group (Group Be); patients with HBV without diabetes (n=17).

All the patients and controls were submitted to: Full history taking and clinical examination, Fasting and postprandial blood sugar, HCV antibodies, HBsAg, HCV PCR, HBV PCR, ALT, AST, prothrombin time, and concentration and Islet cell antibody.