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INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection is a frequent cause of acute and chronic hepatitis and leads to the development of Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC). It is estimated that about 150-200 million people have been in contact with HCV world wide, and approximately 85% are chronically infected. The spectrum of severity of HCV varies widely and progression towards cirrhotic stage and development of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). It depends on several, mostly host-related co-factors such as: age, sex, level of alcohol consumption, Over weight (BMI), Immune status (Tissue necrosis factor alpha [TNF-alpha]), Genotype (1-b, 2-b, 3-a/b), Positive family history of diabetes, liver or kidney transplantation, hepatic steatosis /fibrosis, insulin resistance (IR) and co-infections. Both HCV infection and T2DM are chronic conditions with significant morbidity and mortality. T2DM is approaching epidemic proportions worldwide and by the year 2025, more than 300 million peoples will have been diagnosed with T2DM.
MATERIAL & METHODS: In this prospective and observational study 206 cases of HCV positive on Elisa method were inducted. All cases were segregated into different states of liver disorders and were screened for Blood Sugar level, for one year i.e.; 1st November 2008 to 31st October 2009 at Medical Wards at Liaquat University Hospital (LUH) Jamshoro/Hyderabad, so as to observe the frequency of T2DM among HCV positive patients.
RESULTS: Among 206 cases of HCV positive, male were 133 (64.56%) and female were 73 (35.43%). In our study, we found a strong association between HCV & T2DM and out of 206 HCV infected cases, 24 (11.65%) were found to be diabetic (T2DM). In these males were 18 (75%) and females were 06 (25%). Out of 130 cases of Chronic Hepatitis, T2DM was found in 11 (8.46%), from 60 cases of Liver Cirrhosis, T2DM was found in 08 (13.33%), from 07 cases of HCC, T2DM was found in 01 (14.28%) and from 09 cases of Obesity, T2DM was seen in 04 (26.66%). In 24 cases of T2DM with HCV positive, Genotype 3a was found among 20 (83.33%) and Genotype 1b was found in 04 (16.66%) respectively.
CONCLUSION: In our study we found the strong association of T2DM with HCV infection, which not only affects the course of liver disease but also affects to the treatment course as well. Therefore, it is necessary to screen and control earlier for presence of T2DM that will provide a dual benefit to the sufferer i.e. disease course will not be affected and the treatment response rather will be better.