Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is associated with an increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus .The present work aimed to investigate the virus induced insulin resistantance in non diabetic patients as well as serum leptin and their relations to steatosis and fibrogenesis in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection patients. Twenty-Five patients ,15 males and 10 females with CHC were compared with 25 subjects,matched age ,sex and body mass Index(BMI).The results of the work showed that the mean values of serum insulin,C peptide,HOMA-IR (Homeostasis Model Assesment -Insulin Resistantance )and leptin were significantly elrvated compared with the control group (p>0.05).
Also , HOMA-IR was significantlycorrelated with age, BMI,serum albumin ,C peptide, leptin and histopathological finding (p>0.05(.
From The results of the present study, it could be concluded that hepatitis C virus infection(HCV) might be suggested as an additional risk factor for the development of hyperinslinemia, insulin resistantance and hyperleptinmia that may be a mechanism for steatosis and fibrogenesis in patients with CHC.
Continous screening of these patients might be recommended for early detection and better management of impending diabetes mellitus.