Interferon- reduces insulin resistance and -cell secretion in responders among patients with chronic hepatitis B and C

This study aimed at elucidating the effects of interferon (IFN)on glucose metabolism in patients with chronic hepatitis B and C infections. Twenty-eight biopsy-proven patients with chronic hepatitis B (ten cases) and hepatitis C (18 cases) were given IFNfor a total of 24 weeks. The patients received a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), glucagon stimulation test, tests for type 1 diabetes-related autoantibodies and an insulin suppression test before and after IFNtherapy. Ten of the 28 patients responded to IFNtherapy. Steady-state plasma glucose of the insulin suppression test decreased significantly in responders (13·32 1·48 (S.E.M.) vs 11·33 1·19 mmol/l, P=0·0501) but not in non-responders (12·29 1·24 vs 11·11 0·99 mmol/l, P=0·2110) immediately after completion of IFNtreatment. In the oral glucose tolerance test, no significant difference was observed in plasma glucose in either responders (10·17 0·23 vs 10·03 0·22 mmol/l) or non-responders (10·11 0·22 vs 9·97 0·21 mmol/l) 3 months after completion of IFNtreatment. However, significant differences were noted in C-peptide in both responders (2·90 0·13 vs 2·20 0·09 nmol/l, P=0·0040) and non-responders (2·45 0·11 vs 2·22 0·08 nmol/l, P=0·0287) before vs after treatment. The changes of C-peptide in an OGTT between responders and non-responders were also significantly different (P=0·0028), with responders reporting a greater reduction in C-peptide. No case developed autoantibodies during the treatment. In patients who were successfully treated with IFN, insulin sensitivity improved and their plasma glucose stayed at the same level without secreting as much insulin from islet -cells. Journal of Endocrinology (2003) 178, 457–465