Predictive factors of metabolic changes after interferon-free treatment in hepatitis C infected patients

Chronic hepatits C virus (HCV) infection is a systemic infection with multiple extrahepatic manifestations, including alterations in lipid and glucose metabolism. Interferon-free treatment reverses metabolic abnormalities through virus eradication, but is associated with significant elevation in serum cholesterol levels with further increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study was to assess the correlation between baseline metabolic and hepatic features and changes in lipid and glucose levels after interferon–free treatment in HCV-infected patients