Comparison of the prevalence of insulin resistance between the HCV Antibody positive and non-infected examinee

Jang, Jae Ho; Kim, Hong Joo; Park, Jung Ho; Park, Dong Il; Cho, Yong Kyun; Sohn, Chong Il; Jeon, Woo Kyu; Kim, Byung Ik

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Considerable evidence indicates that patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have a greater risk of developing insulin resistance (IR) compared with non-infected individuals or patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Few reports have examined the prevalence of IR and hepatic steatosis in patients with chronic HCV infection in Korea.
METHODS
Ninety subjects positive for HCV antibody who had normal fasting blood glucose levels and no history of diabetes mellitus were compared with 271 HCV non-infected, age- and sex-matched, healthy examinees between January 2005 and December 2006.
RESULTS
No significant differences in the body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose level were found between the anti-HCV-antibody-positive and non-infected groups. The serum fasting insulin level was significantly higher in the HCV-antibody- positive group than in the non-infected group (9.11+/-2.94 vs. 8.43+/-2.70 microU/mL (mean+/-SD), p=0.04). Although the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was not significantly different between the two groups (2.035+/-0.69 vs. 1.899+/-0.64, p=0.088), the prevalence of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR> or =2.7) was significantly higher in the anti-HCV positive group (18.9% vs. 10.3%, p=0.042). Hepatic steatosis identified by transabdominal ultrasonography was significantly more frequent in the non-infected group (20.3% vs. 11.1%, p=0.028).
CONCLUSIONS
The anti-HCV positive subjects had significant hyperinsulinemia and a higher prevalence of insulin resistance than the non-infected group, whereas hepatic steatosis was more frequent in the non-infected group.