Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Hepatitis C virus is common in Egypt and its prevalence varies from 10 to 17%. Beside its harmful effect on the liver, it can lead to variable other effects on various organs and tissues known as the extrahepatic manifestations of HCV. hepatitis C virus induced thyroid diseases in the form of thyroiditis resulting in hypofunction or even hyperfunction of the gland. thyroid disease was found to be of immune nature. Also diabetes which is often termed hepatogenous diabetes was common in patients with chronic HCV and this form of diabetes differs from the classic type 2 diabetes as the patient are usually non obese but have insulin resistance and also the absence of family history of diabetes. interestingly and GAD and anti islet cell antibodies were found in some chronic HCV diabetic patients. The aim of this work is to study the prevalence of hyperglycemia and thyroid disorders in chronic HCV patients.

Patients and methods: This observational cross sectional study included 1400 chronic HCV patients referred to Fayom University hospital, Fayoum general hospital as well as Fayoum insurance hospital for HCV treatment according to the national Egyptian HCV treatment program.

Results: In this study it was found that 90% of the patients had insulin resistance measured by HOMA-IR , 24% had hyperglycemia (16% T2DM, 8% IGT) and 21% had thyroid diseases (hypothyroidism in 13%, hyperthyroidism in 6% and goiter only with normal function in 2% of the studied population)

Conclusion: Hyperglycemia and thyroid diseases are very common in chronic HCV patients and are linked to the extra-hepatic manifestations of HCV

Keywords: HCV, Hyperglycemia, Diabetes, Thyroid, Insulin Resistance