Hepatitis C virus infection is associated with hepatic and adipose tissue insulin resistance that improves after viral cure.

Background: Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is associated with systemic insulin resistance, yet there are limited data on the tissue-specific contribution in vivo to this adverse metabolic phenotype, and the effect of HCV cure.

Methods: We examined tissue-specific insulin sensitivity in a cohort study involving 13 patients with CHC compared to 12 BMI-matched healthy control subjects. All subjects underwent a two-step clamp incorporating the use of stable isotopes to measure carbohydrate and lipid flux (hepatic and global insulin sensitivity) with concomitant subcutaneous adipose tissue microdialysis and biopsy (subcutaneous adipose tissue insulin sensitivity).