Home    Missions and Scope    Editorial Board     Instructions for Authors    Contact Us

Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Iron Overload Are Associated with Insulin Resistance in Hepatitis C in Egyptian Patients

Mohamed D Morsy³, Ahmad A Raouf⁴

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of medicine, Menoufiya University, Egypt

²Department of Medicine, Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Egypt

³Department of Physiology, Faculty of medicine, Menoufiya University, Egypt

⁴Department of Biochemistry, Liver Institute, Menoufiya University, Egypt

* Corresponding Author: 

Waleed N. Hassan        MD, PhD

Assistant Professor

Biochemistry Department

College of Medicine, Menoufiya University

Shibeen Alkoom, Egypt

Tel: +966-50-433-467 (M)  +966-7-241-7867 (W)

E-mail:  waleednh@yahoo.com

Abstract

Background: There are evidences of an increased incidence of insulin resistance (IR) in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the increased IR in hepatitis C.

Aims: To evaluate tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α and iron overload as potential mediators of IR development in chronic HCV patients.

Patients and Methods: Study groups consisted of four groups: patients with HCV infection (n = 35), patients with hepatitis C and diabetes mellitus (HCV+DM) (n = 31), patients with DM (n = 36), and healthy controls (n = 30). The homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) was the criteria used to quantify the degree of IR.

Results: HOMA indices were significantly higher in the HCV, HCV+DM and DM groups compared to the healthy controls (P < 0.001 for each). TNF-α was significantly higher in HCV and HCV+DM groups compared with DM and healthy controls (P < 0.001 for each). TNF-α was significantly higher in HCV+DM group compared with HCV group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, TNF-α was positively correlated with HOMA indices in HCV and HCV+DM groups (r= ~ +0.900, P < 0.001).  Serum ferritin had a positive correlation with HOMA indices in HCV and HCV+DM groups (r= ~ +0.800, P < 0.001).

Conclusion: TNF-α and iron overload may explain in part the development of IR in chronic HCV patients.

Keywords:  diabetes; ferritin; transferrin.

Download the full article (PDF)