Significantly Decreased Islet β Cell Function is Closely Associated with Hyperglycemia in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Dafeng Liu; Lingyun Zhou; Xinyi Zhang; Yilan Zeng; Lang Bai; Dongbo Wu; Hong Tang

doi:10.1155/2021/1264707

Significantly Decreased Islet β Cell Function is Closely Associated with Hyperglycemia in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients

Int J Endocrinol. 2021 Aug 24:2021:1264707. doi: 10.1155/2021/1264707. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Dafeng Liu^{1

2}, Lingyun Zhou¹, Xinyi Zhang³, Yilan Zeng², Lang Bai¹, Dongbo Wu¹, Hong Tang¹

Affiliations

¹ Center of Infectious Diseases, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China.
² Department of Internal Medicine, The Public and Health Clinic Centre of Chengdu, Chengdu, China.
³ Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Sichuan University West China Hospital, Chengdu, China.

Abstract

Aim: This study is aimed at the characteristics of glucose metabolism and islet β cell function evaluated by the homeostasis model assessment of β cell function (HOMA-β) value and its risk factors in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Method: This cross-sectional study recruited 110 CHB patients (CHB group) and 110 patients without hepatitis B virus (non-HBV group); the groups were matched according to sex, age, and body mass index under the same glucose metabolism status. The risk factors, characteristics, and differences in glucose metabolism and HOMA-β values between the two groups were analyzed.

Results: The abnormal glucose metabolism rate was higher in CHB patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) or hepatitis B envelope antigen (HBeAg) (-) status. In addition, under the same glucose metabolism status, the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels and 2-hour postprandial plasma glucose (2h-PG) levels in the CHB group were higher, while the HOMA-β values were significantly lower and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) value was not higher than that in the non-HBV group (all P < 0.0001). Further analyses revealed that the main risk factors for abnormal glucose metabolism were HBeAg (-) status and hepatitis B envelope antibody levels. But HBV serological and virological indicators had no effects on the HOMA-β values.

Conclusion: Islet β cell function in patients with CHB was compromised, which is closely associated with fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia in chronic hepatitis B patients. Further research should be done to verify the compromised islet β cell function and then to investigate the mechanisms behind the effect of hepatitis B virus infection on islet β cell function in CHB patients.