Renal function is impaired in normotensive chronic HCV patients: role of insulin resistance

Usefulness of metabolic score for insulin resistance index in estimating the risk of mildly reduced estimate glomerular filtration rate: a cross-sectional study of rural population in China

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to reveal the association between metabolic score for insulin resistance (MetS-IR) and the risk of mildly decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and explore the evaluation effect of MetS-IR on the progress of eGFR decline.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 11 956 rural participants (aged ≥35 years) from northeastern China were enrolled in the study. After excluding the subjects whose data were not integrated or who met the exclusion criteria, we finally obtained 11 042 participants in the present study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Mildly decreased eGFR was defined as 60-90 mL/min/1.73 m².

RESULTS

The prevalence of mildly decreased eGFR in the general population was 36.9%. After adjustment of covariates, each SD increment of MetS-IR could bring 26.3% additional risk of mildly decreased eGFR (OR: 1.263, 95% CI: 1.066 to 1.497, p=0.007). When MetS-IR was classified into four levels by quartile, we observed participants in the top level had 3.032-fold risk of mildly decreased eGFR (OR: 3.032, 95% CI: 1.841 to 4.991, p<0.001) compared with those from the bottom level. Further, we found the participants with higher MetS-IR score were more likely to aggravate into a worse renal state which presented as higher risk of accelerated decline of eGFR, by additional 28.3% risk in whole participants (OR: 1.283, 95% CI: 1.150 to 1.430, p<0.001) and 41.9% in men (OR: 1.419, 95% CI: 1.183 to 1.701, p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

High MetS-IR was associated with high risk of mildly reduced eGFR and often accompanied by a high risk of accelerated decline in eGFR. Hence, we believed MetS-IR was a suitable indicator to evaluate the risk of early-stage renal dysfunction.

Hepatitis c virus and chronic kidney disease

INTRODUCTION

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with an increased incidence and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD), as well as higher mortality in CKD and renal transplant patients. Direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have revolutionized the treatment of HCV, with viral eradication attained in 90-100% of treated patients. DAAs have an excellent safety and tolerability profile in CKD and renal transplant patients.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we discuss the association of HCV with incidence and progression of CKD as well as its effect on outcomes and mortality. We also discuss the available treatment options in patients with CKD and renal transplant and in HCV-associated glomerular disease.

EXPERT OPINION

The availability of newly available direct acting anti-viral agents has revolutionized the treatment of HCV in persons with advanced CKD and undergoing dialysis. With these regimens, viral eradication can be attained in 90-100% of the treated patients. The safety, tolerability, and efficacy of these drugs in renal transplant patients have also made it possible to use HCV-infected grafts and successful virus eradication at a later stage.

Hepatitis C virus infection in chronic kidney disease: paradigm shift in management

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased liver-related morbidity and mortality rates, accelerated progression to end-stage renal disease, and risk of cardiovascular events. CKD patients with HCV infection require antiviral therapy. Pegylated interferon (peg-IFN) plus ribavirin was the standard of care for HCV-infected CKD patients before the introduction of first-generation direct-acting antiviral (DAA) oral anti-HCV agents. Peg-IFN-based treatment has a low virologic response rate and poor compliance, resulting in a high dropout rate. Recently, several clinical trials of all-DAA combination regimens have reported excellent antiviral efficacy and few adverse drug reactions in HCV-infected patients with CKD. These positive results have revolutionized the treatment of chronic HCV infection in this population. In this review, we address the impact of chronic HCV infection in CKD patients, and discuss their management using next-generation DAAs.

Genetic Polymorphism of CYP27B1-1260 as Associated With Impaired Fasting Glucose in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Undergoing Antiviral Therapy

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have indicated that abnormal glucose levels and diabetes are negatively associated with the prognosis of patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The genetic polymorphism of the promoter region -1260 of a gene encoding the enzyme 1-alpha-hydroxylase (CYP27B1-1260) has been shown to have an impact on the signaling pathways involved in insulin secretion.

OBJECTIVES

The aim is to investigate the effect of CYP27B1-1260 polymorphism on the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels in patients with chronic HCV undergoing antiviral therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 461 patients with chronic HCV infection and 300 volunteers without HCV infection were enrolled in an observational cohort study in the China-Japan Union hospital of Jilin University and the Second Hospital of Daqing, Changchun, Jilin Province. Both groups were further divided into normal and abnormal FPG subgroups. The frequencies of the three CYP27B1-1260 genotypes (AA, AC, and CC) were determined in each subgroup. FPG levels were monitored at baseline in HCV and control participants, and both during and after antiviral therapy in HCV infected patients. The frequency of each genotype was determined. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the risk factors associated with abnormal FPG levels in HCV infected patients undergoing antiviral therapy.

RESULTS

In HCV infected patients with abnormal FPG levels, the frequency of the genotype CC was significantly higher than that in patients with normal FPG levels (19% vs. 7%, P < 0.001). In contrast, in the control participants, the CC genotype was not significantly different between FPG groups. At baseline, the CC genotype was associate with four times more risk of IFG after adjusting for multiple variables (OR: 4.11; 95%CI: 1.98 - 8.52, P = 0.0001). During 24 weeks of anti-HCV treatment, 38 HCV participants developed newly-diagnosed impaired fasting glucose. The CC genotype markedly increased the risk for newly developed IFG (OR: 26.54; 95%CI: 7.80 - 90.32, P < 0.0001). Other risk factors included age and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONS

CYP27B1-1260 polymorphism is associated with abnormal glucose metabolism in HCV infected patients. HCV infected individuals with CYP27B1-1260 genotype CC appeared to have an increased risk of developing abnormal FPG levels.