Relation of insulin resistance and liver fibrosis progression in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection can predispose to the development of insulin resistance before diabetes occurs. Such a potential link is particularly cogent in light of recent data indicate that diabetes may be associated with increased hepatic fibrosis progression in patients with chronic HCV infection. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of insulin resistance in non diabetic patients with chronic hepatitis C and its relation to liver fibrosis.
METHODS: Thirty eight patients with chronic liver diseases. They subdivided into 2 groups; chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with elevated liver enzymes and CHC with normal liver enzymes. Age and sex matched 12 healthy subjects as control group. All subjects were subjected to Careful history and copmlete examination with stress upon symptoms and signs of chronic liver diseases. Investigations include liver function tests; viral markers (Anti HCV antibodies & PCR for HCV). Serum fasting glucose; serum fasting insulin; homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), liver biopsy and abdominal ultrasound.
RESULTS: No correlation between viral load and hepatic fibrosis in HCV infected patients. Liver fibrosis is considerably higher among HCV patients with elevated serum transaminase levels. Insulin resistance is present in HCV infected cases compared with control group and it is positively correlated with liver fibrosis.
CONCLUSION: The present data support the hypothesis that insulin resistance may increase the rate of fibrosis progression in non diabetic patients with chronic HCV. Follow up of hyperinsulinemia by serial measurement of HOMA test in non diabetic HCV infected patients may be a biochemical indicator for progression of liver fibrosis.