RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHRONIC HEPATITIS C AND TYPE-2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN BHAWALPURIAN PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: To establish a potential relationship between
chronic hepatitis C virus infection and diabetes mellitus in Bahawalpur Design: Comparative study. Setting
& period: Bahawal Victoria Hospital and four different private clinics in Bahawalpur during 2002 to
2003.Material &Methods: 1. The case record files of 100 patients with chronic hepatitis C vs. 100 with
chronic hepatitis B were reviewed and the laboratory and demographic data were extracted. 2. Anti-HCV and
HBsAg were determined for 100 type 2 diabetes patients and 100 healthy adults by ELISA. The diagnosis of
diabetes was based on the new WHO criteria. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was calculated and tested for
significance. Results: 1. The occurrence of diabetes in patients with chronic hepatitis C was 19%, higher than
8% in patients with chronic hepatitis B (P<0.01). Age and HCV infection were independent risk factors for
diabetes. 2. Three patients with type 2 diabetes were anti-HCV positive while none of the 100 healthy adults
was anti-HCV positive (P<0.05). Four patients with diabetes and five healthy adults were HBsAg positive
(P>0.05). Conclusion: 1. Diabetes Mellitus was found to be significantly more frequent among HCV related
liver disease patients when compared with HBV infected liver patients. 2. The frequency of anti HCV was
higher in diabetes patients as compared to healthy adults. HCV can be a trigger factor in the development of
diabetes mellitus.