Investigation of interleukin-6 in hepatitis B patients with high blood glucose levels

Hepatitis B virus plays an important role in persistent inflammation with necrosis of the liver tissue, with the result that some patients with hepatitis develop diabetes. The present study aims to understand the correlation between pro-inflammatory interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression and insulin resistance in hepatitis B patients. Forty-three patients with diabetes, 68 patients with hepatitis, and 68 controls without diabetes and hepatitis were included in this study. The concentrations of glycated hemoglobin, glucose, and insulin antibodies in patients with hepatitis B and diabetes were significantly higher than those in controls without hepatitis and diabetes (p < 0.001). The IL-6 concentrations in the patients with hepatitis B were significantly higher than those in the group with diabetes and the control group. The results suggest that an increase in IL-6 level in hepatitis B patients may lead to the occurrence of high blood glucose levels.