Insulin Resistance Associated With Chronic Hepatitis C (CHC) and the Effect of Antiviral Therapy

Summary

The literature suggests that there may be an association between hepatitis C and type 2 diabetes mellitus independent of the presence of cirrhosis, the likely mechanism for which is insulin resistance. The prevalence of insulin resistance in patients with hepatitis C is unknown. Furthermore, there are no studies that indicate an increased prevalence of insulin resistance in patients with hepatitis C compared to other etiologies of liver disease. The role that hepatitis C may have in the development of insulin resistance is unclear. The effect of antiviral therapy for hepatitis C virus on insulin resistance has not been addressed. The long-term consequence of insulin resistance is type 2 diabetes mellitus. There is significant morbidity and mortality from type 2 diabetes mellitus in the general population, and similar complications would be expected in patients with hepatitis C and insulin resistance particularly if they develop type 2 diabetes mellitus. Our hypothesis: The prevalence of insulin resistance is increased in patients with chronic hepatitis C compared to chronic hepatitis B. Secondarily, insulin resistance when present in patients with chronic hepatitis C improves with successful antiviral therapy. This study has two phases. The first phase of our study will be to estimate the prevalence of insulin resistance in individuals with chronic hepatitis C without cirrhosis compared to patients with chronic hepatitis B without cirrhosis. The second phase of the study will be restricted to those patients with hepatitis C found to be insulin resistant from phase 1, in the absence of known risk factors for insulin resistance (cirrhosis, diabetes). The effect on insulin resistance of anti-viral therapy to eradicate hepatitis C will be assessed.

Timeline

Start

2003-08

Primary completion

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Completion

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Drugs

Indications