ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: To compare the glucose metabolism of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in pretreatment and sustained viral response (SVR) periods. Materials and methods: This was an intervention pre-post study of 273 patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection treated with DAAs from March 2018 to December 2019. Glycidic metabolism was evaluated through homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) - insulin resistance (IR) and HOMA-β indices and assessments of insulinemia and HbA1c levels. These parameters were analyzed with a T test by paired comparison of the means of the variables and Wilcoxon's test paired for the median; in the variables with an abnormal distribution, the Z score was generated for the mean in both the pretreatment and SVR periods. Statistical significance was considered at p ≤ 0.05. Results: Among 273 participants, 125 (45.8%) had prediabetes, and 50 (18.3%) had diabetes. In SVR, there was a significant increase in platelets, albumin, alkaline phosphatase, cholesterol and triglycerides and a significant decrease in aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma GT and bilirubin. The HOMA-IR and HOMA-β indices increased in SVR from 1.95 to 2.29 (p = 0.087) and 71.20 to 82.60 (p = 0.001), respectively. Insulinemia increased from 7.60 μU/mL to 8.90 μU/mL (p = 0.011). HbA1c decreased from 5.6 to 5.4 (p < 0.001). Among patients with prediabetes and those with diabetes, the reduction in HbA1c values was significant (p = 0.006 and p = 0.026, respectively). Conclusion: SVR significantly impacts and leads to improvement in glucose metabolism in patients with chronic liver disease induced by hepatitis C virus.
ABSTRACT
SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study, carried out at the university hospital of the Federal University of Rio Grande, was to assess whether the treatment of chronic hepatitis C with direct-acting antivirals and the sustained virological response will affect the metabolic influences of the hepatitis C virus and whether these effects will vary according to genotypes and virus load. METHODS: This is an intervention pre-post study, carried out from March 2018 to December 2019, evaluating 273 hepatitis C virus patients treated with direct-acting antivirals. Inclusion criteria included being monoinfected with hepatitis C virus and achieving sustained virological response . Exclusion criteria included the presence of decompensated cirrhosis or co-infected with hepatitis B virus or human immunodeficiency virus. Genotypes, genotype 1 subtypes, and hepatitis C virus viral load were analyzed. Glucose metabolism was evaluated by the Homeostasis Model Assessment-insulin resistance indices: Homeostasis Model Assessment-β, TyG, and HbA1c, measured at the beginning of treatment and in sustained virological response. Statistical analysis with a T test by paired comparison of the means of the variables in the pretreatment and in the sustained virological response. RESULTS: Homeostasis Model Assessment-insulin resistance analysis: there were no significant differences between pretreatment and sustained virological response. Homeostasis Model Assessment-β analysis: significant increase in genotype 1 patients (p<0.028). TyG index analysis: significant increase in genotype 1b (p<0.017), genotype 3 (p<0.024), and genotype non-1 with low viral load (p<0.039). HbA1c analysis: significant decrease in genotype 3 (p<0.001) and genotype non-1 patients with low viral load (p<0.005). CONCLUSION: We detected significant metabolic influences after sustained virological response: impairment in lipid profile and improvements in the glucose metabolism. We found significant differences in genotype dependence, genotype 1 subtypes, and viral load.