HCV and Diabetes Mellitus: Considerations About Effects of Interferon Therapy

Abstract

Nowadays HCV-related chronic hepatitis represents one of the main challenge for infectious diseases for many reasons: the dimension of the phenomenon, as millions of patients are afflicted with this pathology in the world, the dra- matic consequences on the quality of their life, the economic and sanitary efforts sustained by the society, but also the stimulating results in therapeutic approach due to the introduction of interferons in monotherapy first and association ther- apy (IFN plus ribavirin) later in modern protocols. The results obtained with these therapies are very encouraging even if medical doctors and patients know very well that this therapy is related to some side effects that grow dramatically in number with the progression of scientific knowledge. The Authors review the literature on the relationship among HCV, IFN therapy and diabetes to understand better damages and benefits of this long debated matter and possibly add their contribution to clinical and therapeutic strategies.