THE PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTION AMONG DIABETIC PATIENTS IN SIBIU COUNTY
Abstract:
The liver has a central position in intermediary metabolism and plays an essential role in the
pathogenesis of insulin resistance. HCV infection affects about 3% of the world’s population. A large
number of HVC - infected patients have various extrahepatic manifestations. Age, obesity, dyslipidemia,
and a family history of DM are associated with a higher incidence of diabetes in HCV – infected
patients. The pathogenesis of DM developing against a background of HVC infection is very much
debated. Suggested mechanisms include: insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia; insulin deficiency or
decreased insulin secretion; liver steatosis; inflammation and proinflammatory cytokines; direct
pancreatic HCV infection; autoimune ß- cell damage; and iron overload. Diabetes was observed in 21%
of HCV-infected. HCV genotype 2a was observed in 29% of HCV-RNA-positive diabetic patients,being
more possible that HCV infection, especially genotype 2a, may serve as an additional risk factor for the
development of diabetes, beyond that attributable to chronic liver disease alone.
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