The Role of Insulin Resistance and IL-6 Polymorphism in the Response of Patients of CHC to Combined Therapy

Background: HCV current treatment is a combination of Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and Ribavirin for a period of 24 or 48 weeks, with (SVR) of 75-80% in HCV genotypes 2 and 3, within 24 weeks of treatment, 50% in patients in genotype 1, and 65% in those with genotype 4 given 48 weeks of treatment. Several viral and host factors may be involved, both insulin resistance and IL-6, may play a major role in the response of patients of CHC to combined therapy.Aim of the Study: To demonstrate the role of insulin resistance and IL-6 in the response of patients of CHC to combined therapy.Patients and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study, included 55 CHC patients, to determine Interleukin-6 serum level, IL-6 genotype and Insulin resistance in chronic hepatitis C patients treated by the combined therapy, which compared with a control group of 13 normal adults age- and sex-matched to the patients were selected from healthy blood donors.Results: The study reported that insulin resistance was significantly high in CHC patients than controls. And also in male than female patients (p-value=0.01). It is also noted that IL-6 level is significantly higher in responders than nonresponder patients (p-value=0.01). There is no statistically significant difference in response to treatment between all genotypes of IL-6 -174 polymorphism. Also, there was no statistically significant difference in insulin resistance between responders and nonresponders.Conclusion: Serum the IL-6 level is significantly higher in responder patients and can be used as an independent predictor to response to therapy.