FREQUENCY OF HEPATITIS C INFECTION IN DIABETIC PATIENTS
Abstract
Background: Diabetic patients are at an increased risk of acquiring Hepatitis C virus (HCV)infection owing to the nature of the disease and its inherent complications or frequent parentralexposure. On the other hand HCV infection may itself contribute to the development of DiabetesMellitus. The epidemiological evidence of this association has not been studied in Pakistan at apopulation level and its exact biological mechanisms are not obvious. Objective of this study wasto study the frequency of HCV infection among adult diabetic patients attending the Hospital.Methods : The study comprised of 100 Diabetic patients visiting the out patient clinics or admittedin the medical wards of a Teaching Hospital, in Peshawar. Diabetes was confirmed according tothe new diagnostic criteria based on 2 fasting or 2 random plasma glucose levels of more than 126milligram per deciliter (mg/dL) and 200 mg/dL respectively. The presence of HCV infection wasconfirmed by Enzyme Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) method. A concise history of thepatient, examination and laboratory findings were recorded on a Performa. Results: Out of thehundred diabetics, 36% were found to be anti HCV positive and all of them had type II diabetes.There was no gender difference in the seropositive cases. Serum Glutamic -Pyruvic Transaminase(SGPT) level was raised in 75% of the positive cases as compared to the 25% of the seronegativepatients. The seropositive cases had a comparatively higher blood sugar level. Conclusion: HCVinfection occurs more often in type II diabetics and further investigations should be done indiabetic patients with raised SGPT for the presence of chronic HCV infection.Keywords : Hepatitis C virus, Diabetes mellitus.References
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