Seroprevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in diabetic patients

Hepatitis C virus [HCV] infection primarily causes liver disease but also various extrahepatic manifestations. The association of chronic HCV infection and diabetes mellitus has been recently reported. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of HCV infection in diabetes patients. This study included 100 diabetic patients and 300 group control patients consulting in various diagnostic centers. Serum samples were tested for anti-hepatitis C virus antibody [HCV Ab], total HBc antibody and for hepatitis B antigen [HBs Ag]. Anti HCV were detected in 6 diabetic patients and 2 controls [6% vs 0.67%, p=0.001]. And 5/6 HCV Ab positives patients had type 2 diabetes mellitus. HBs Ag and anti HBc were detected respectively in 1% and 49% in diabetic patients. Our study shows an increasing seroprevalence of HCV Ab in diabetic patients that allows us to define them as a group at risk for viral hepatitis C