Insulin resistance in non-diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C: what does it mean?

• Published in: Arquivos brasileiros de endocrinologia e metabologia Vol. 55; no. 6; pp. 412 - 418
• Main Authors: Souza, Aécio Flávio Meirelles de, Pace, Fábio Heleno de Lima, Chebli, Júlio Maria Fonseca, Ferreira, Lincoln Eduardo Villela Vieira de Castro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Endocrinologia e Metabologia 01-08-2011
• Subjects: Anthropometry; Biomarkers - blood; Brazil - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus - diagnosis; ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Hepatitis C, Chronic - complications; Hepatitis C, Chronic - metabolism; Humans; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Liver Cirrhosis - epidemiology; Liver Cirrhosis - etiology; Male; Middle Aged; Reference Values; Brazil; HOMA-IR; liver fibrosis; Chronic hepatitis C; resistência insulínica; Hepatite crônica C; insulin resistance; fibrose hepática
• ISSN: 0004-2730; 1677-9487; 1677-9487; 0004-2730
• DOI: 10.1590/S0004-27302011000600008

To determine the prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) in non-diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C, and to assess the association between IR, laboratory parameters and histological findings.
Eighty-two patients had their serum analyzed for glucose, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), HOMA-IR, viral load and HCV genotype. Patients with HOMA-IR levels > 2.5 were considered as carriers of insulin resistance.
IR was observed in 27% of patients and was associated with age, waist circumference and body mass index. IR patients were more likely to have more advanced hepatic fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity, higher levels of aminotransferases and liver steatosis than patients without IR.
Insulin resistance is often present in patients with chronic hepatitis C, and this parameter is associated with more advanced HCV-related hepatic fibrosis.