INSULIN RESISTANCE, STEATOSIS AND PROGRESSION OF FIBROSIS IN PATIENTS WITH GENOTYPE 1 CHRONIC HEPATITIS C

Background and aim: Insulin resistance (IR) and steatosis have been associated with fibrosis severity in chronic hepatitis C (CHC), but only few studies investigate their role as predictors of disease evolution. We aimed to assess in patients with CHC if IR and steatosis are linked to progression of fibrosis over time. Material and methods: 86 consecutive G1 HCV infected patients with two paired liver biopsies over a period 67±30 months (range, 13-135), were evaluated at baseline by anthropometric and metabolic measurements, including IR (IR= HOMA-IR >2.7). All biopsies were scored by one pathologist for staging and grading (Scheuer). Steatosis was considered significant if =10. Results: At…