OBJECTIVE:
Little is known about the relationship between elevated serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and insulin resistance, which adversely influence the clinical course of chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Therefore, we investigated the association between serum AFP and insulin resistance in patients with CHC.
METHODS:
We retrospectively investigated 300 patients with CHC without hepatoma who underwent liver biopsies and oral glucose tolerance tests. Patients taking antidiabetic drugs were excluded. We analyzed factors associated with elevated AFP levels (≥ 10.0 ng/mL) in 265 eligible patients. Twenty patients with a homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance value of ≥ 2.0 and a whole-body insulin sensitivity index of |
