Effect of HCV on fasting glucose, fasting insulin and peripheral insulin resistance in first 5 years of infection

Objective: To assess the effects of hepatitis C virus infection in the first 5 years on fasting glucose, fasting insulin and peripheral insulin resistance. Methods: The case-control study was conducted at the Army Medical College, Rawalpindi, from December 2011 to November 2012, and comprised subjects recruited froma government hospital in Rawalpindi. The subjects included known cases of hepatitis C virus infection for at least 5 years, and normal healthy controls. Fasting blood samples of all the subjects were collected and analysed for serum fasting insulin and serum fasting glucose levels. Homeostatic model assessment-Insulin resistance was calculated SPSS 11 was used for statistical analysis.. Results: Of the 30 subjects, 20(66.6%) were cases, while 10(33.3%) were controls. Serum fasting glucose mean level in cases was 89.55 +/- 9.53 compared to 84.40 +/- 9.80 in the controls (p=0.188). The mean serum fasting insulin in controls was 7.52 +/- 3.23 and 6.79 +/- 3.30 in cases (p=0.567). Homeostatic model assessment-Insulin resistance level in controls was 1.60 +/- 0.76 and In the cases it was 1.49 +/- 0.74 (p=0.695). Conclusion: Peripheral insulin resistance and development of type 2 diabetes as a complication of hepatitis C virus infection was not likely at least within the first five years of infection.