BackgroundChronic hepatitis C (CHC) induces insulin resistance (IR) and subsequently diabetes. Aim of the study This study was designed to assess the correlation between IR and serum hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level in patients with CHC virus genotype 4 infection.
Subjects and methodsClinical and biochemical characteristics were collected from 40 patients with chronic HCV genotype 4 infection. Liver biopsy, homeostasis model assessment of IR, and quantitative HCV RNA level were investigated in all patients. Twenty age, sex, and BMI-matched persons served as a control group.
ResultsHomeostasis model assessment of IR was significantly higher in patients with CHC genotype 4 infection than in those belonging to the control group. No significant correlation was found between HCV RNA level and IR index in chronic HCV genotype 4-infected patients. Conclusion HCV genotype 4 infection is significantly associated with IR. Serum HCV RNA level does not correlate with the degree of IR in chronic HCV genotype 4 infection.
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