High blood glucose levels are associated with fibrosis/cirrhosis progression in chronic hepatitis C

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) leads eventually to liver fibrosis, advanced hepatic disease and related deaths. Therefore, it is very important to assess clinical risk factors associated with rapid CHC and hepatic fibrosis progression. Former studies reported diabetes mellitus synergistic interactions with other host factors to fibrosis progression. Here, we aimed to evaluate the association between elevated blood glucose levels and CHC progression according to METAVIR system in patients chronically infected with HCV-genotype 4 and to evaluate the correlation between elevated glucose levels and liver- and viral-related biochemical parameters. A total of 160 patients with CHC (80 with liver fibrosis and 80 with cirrhosis) and 40 healthy volunteers, negative for HCV, were included. Our results revealed that cirrhotic patients had high (