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Lipid and carbohydrate parameters in children with chronic hepatitis C

M Wiśniewska-Ligier1, A Konopka, T Woźniakowska-Gęsicka

  • 1III Department of Pediatrics, The Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital, Research Institute, Lodz, Poland.

Advances in Medical Sciences
|November 25, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Children with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) show no significant lipid or glucose disorders. However, insulin resistance correlates with disease staging, suggesting HCV may impact fibrosis via glucose metabolism interference.

Area of Science:

  • Hepatology
  • Pediatric Gastroenterology
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection poses significant epidemiological and clinical challenges.
  • Beyond liver damage, HCV is increasingly recognized for its adverse effects on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.
  • Understanding these metabolic disturbances in pediatric populations is crucial for comprehensive patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate lipid and carbohydrate metabolism parameters in children diagnosed with chronic HCV-related hepatitis.
  • To compare these metabolic profiles between children with CHC and healthy controls.
  • To explore potential correlations between metabolic markers and disease severity in pediatric CHC patients.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 41 children (7-18 years) with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) was compared to 30 healthy controls.
  • Standard anthropometric measurements were recorded.
  • Fasting serum glucose, insulin, lipid profiles (total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides), total bilirubin, AST, ALT, and HOMA IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance) were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • No significant differences were observed in BMI, glucose, insulin, bilirubin, LDL-C, HDL-C, triglycerides, HDL/C index, or HOMA IR between CHC patients and controls.
  • AST and ALT levels were significantly higher in the control group, contrary to expectations.
  • A trend towards lower total cholesterol and LDL-C was noted in controls.
  • Positive correlations were found between insulin levels, HOMA IR, and disease staging (r=0.336, P < 0.04 and r=0.386, P < 0.02, respectively).

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric patients with CHC and short disease duration do not exhibit overt lipid or glucose dysregulation.
  • The observed correlations between insulin, HOMA IR, and disease staging suggest that HCV may influence fibrosis progression through metabolic pathways involving glucose regulation.
  • Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms of HCV-induced metabolic alterations and their impact on liver fibrosis in children.
Abstract

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