%0 Journal Article
%T Serum Islet Cell Autoantibodies During Interferon ¦Á Treatment in Patients With HCV-Genotype 4 Chronic Hepatitis
%A Gamal Badra
%A Imam Waked
%A Carlo Selmi
%A Saleh M. Saleh
%A Ahmed El-Shaarawy
%A Mahmoud Lotfy
%J Clinical and Developmental Immunology
%D 2006
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1080/17402520600557867
%X Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of end-stage liver disease worldwide and HCV genotype 4 (HCV4) is predominant in African and Middle Eastern countries. It is well established that interferon-α (IFNa) treatment for HCV may trigger serum autoantibodies against pancreatic islet cells (ICA) in a subgroup of patients. Available data on the incidence of ICA during IFNa therapy for chronic HCV4 infection are not conclusive. We investigated the appearance of ICA in 40 na£¿ve Egyptian patients (38 males, 32 ± 6 years) with histologically defined chronic HCV4 infection undergoing IFNa treatment at a dose of 9-million U/week for 24 weeks. Serum samples were collected at baseline and following IFNa therapy and ICA were detected using indirect immunofluorescence. Baseline evaluation indicated that 2/40 (5%) patients had detectable serum ICA. After the completion of the treatment scheme, 12/38 (32%) previously ICA negative patients became ICA positive; however, no patient developed impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) or diabetes during follow-up. In conclusion, we submit that IFNa treatment for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) may induce serum ICA in one-third of Egyptian patients with HCV4. These autoantibodies, however, do not lead to alterations in glucose metabolism.
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/cdi/2006/153632/abs/