CHRONIC HEPATITIS C INFECTION

CORRELATION OF GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST, THE LEVELS OF FASTING BLOOD SUGAR (FBS) AND HEMOGLOBIN A1c (HbA1c)

Abstract

Objectives: To find out the possible effects of chronic hepatitis
C on carbohydrate metabolism in liver. Setting: Independent Medical College and City Lab. Faisalabad.
Material & Methods: A total of 42 male subjects between the age of 30-49 years having chronic hepatitis C
were registered at random. For control group, 21 normal healthy males of same age group having normal liver
function test. 5ml of fasting blood was taken and analyzed for blood sugar, GTT, HbA1c, SGPT, Alkaline
Phosphatase and Bilirubin. Results: The levels of SGPT were significantly raised, which shows liver cell injuries.
The levels of Fasting blood glucose were towards the lower normal limit in patients having chronic hepatitis “C”
while the levels of HbA1c were higher in patients having chronic hepatitis “C”. The glucose tolerance test
showed a significant increase in the patients with Hepatitis C virus infection. Conclusion: The result showed
that there is some disturbance in the regulation of glucose metabolism in patients having chronic hepatitis “C”.