Reduction of insulin resistance with effective clearance of hepatitis C infection: results from the HALT-C trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background & aims

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes and insulin resistance (IR); whether this is a causal relationship has not been established.

Methods

We performed a longitudinal study within the lead-in phase of the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-Term Treatment against Cirrhosis (HALT-C) Trial to evaluate whether suppression of hepatitis C is associated with improvement in IR. Participants had advanced hepatic fibrosis and carried non-3 HCV genotypes (n = 96). Patients underwent 24 weeks of pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy and were categorized into HCV clearance groups at week 20 on the basis of HCV RNA levels; null responders had <1 log(10) decline (n = 38), partial responders had >or=1 log(10) decline (n = 37)

SUBMITTER: Delgado-Borrego A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2856733 | biostudies-literature | 2010 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature