High hepatitis C viral load is associated with insulin resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis C
Journal
Liver International
Journal Volume
28
Journal Issue
2
Pages
271-277
Date Issued
2008
Author(s)
Hsu C.-S.
Wang C.-C.
Lai M.-Y.
Abstract
Background and Aims: Although insulin resistance affects liver fibrosis progression and treatment response in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), the relationship between chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and insulin resistance (IR) remains to be firmly established. We thus studied the impact of host, metabolic and viral factors on IR in CHC patients. Methods: A total of 162 CHC patients with complete clinical data were enrolled. Among them, 94 received histological examinations. Quantitative HCV RNA was assayed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Genotyping was performed by reverse transcription PCR with type-specific primers. The pretreatment IR index was determined using homeostasis model assessment (HOMA), and an index value of more than 2.4 was designated IR. Unadjusted and adjusted association of the HCV RNA level and IR was further analysed. Results: In multivariate linear regression analysis, a dose-response relationship was observed between the log 10 HCV RNA level and the presence of IR. IR was positively correlated with body mass index, triglyceride, HCV RNA and alanine aminotransferase levels, but negatively correlated with adiponectin level. Subgroup analysis stratified by HCV genotype showed that there was a trend towards a higher HOMR-IR index value and lower adiponectin levels in genotype 1 patients. Histological analysis showed that IR was positively associated with the severity of hepatic steatosis. Conclusions: Our data indicate that higher HCV RNA levels are associated with the presence of IR in CHC patients. Further studies are needed to clarify the interplays between HCV infection, IR and adiponectin in an attempt to develop new adjuvant therapy for CHC. ? 2007 The Authors. Journal compilation ? 2007 Blackwell Munksgaard.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adiponectin; alanine aminotransferase; glucose; insulin; interferon; triacylglycerol; virus RNA; adult; article; body mass; controlled study; correlation analysis; diet restriction; disease association; disease severity; fatty liver; female; genotype; glucose blood level; hepatitis C; Hepatitis C virus; histopathology; human; insulin resistance; linear regression analysis; major clinical study; male; quantitative analysis; real time polymerase chain reaction; reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction; virus load
Publisher
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Type
journal article