Risk of type II diabetes in viral hepatitis B and C patients

Objective: to find out the prevalence of type ii diabetes in viral hepatitis b and c patients of different age groups with and without cirrhosis. methods: this observational study was carried out in the department of biochemistry,basic medical sciences institute,jinnah postgraduate medical center karach,during the period june 2007 to june 2008. eighty hepatitis b and c virus infection positive patients with and without cirrhosis were selected for study after confirmation of their diagnosis by elisa method. normal subjects were selected as controls for study. blood glucose was estimated by hexokinase method,while enzymes assay was done by enzymatic (kinetic) method. data analysis including paired and correlation analysis were carried out and p value upto 0. 05 was considered significant. results: the number of diabetic patients was high (55%) in age group 40-49. patients with cirrhosis of hepatitis c wer having high risk (40%) than of hepatitis b (23%) of develping diabetes. this trend was also observed in patients of without circhosis (27% hepatitis c,10% hepatitis b). increasing fasting blood glucose level associated with increase in hepatic enzymes (ast and alt) levels was observed. it was an indicator of ongoing liver damage in co-morid condition of viral hepatitis. conclusion: in addition to the derangement of liver function,patients of viral hepatitis b and c can be at the risk of development of type ii diabetes. earller measure are neede for the prevention of the disease at earlier stage of development.