prevalence of hepatitis c in type ii diabetic patients

editor considering the increasing prevalence of hcv in diabetes type 2 and chronic nature of hcv infection and its progression to cirrhosis and hepato_cellular tumors, we aimed to determine the frequency of hcv infection in diabetes type 2 in order to diagnose and treat these patients as soon as possible. essential information gathered by a check list from type two diabetic patients admitted at endocrinology institute of firuzgar hospital during a year (from june 2007 to june 2008). from patients who agreed to enroll in the study, blood samples were collected for detecting hcv ab and fbs, lipid profile and hcv infection risk factors. blood pressure was measured in all patients as well. results were analyzed by spss. totally 235 patients with type 2 diabetes enrolled in our study with mean age of 60.8±10 (42-78) years old, most of them were females 146 (62.1%). the mean duration of diabetes was 9.5±7.7 years. the prevalence of hcv infection risk factors were as follow: surgical history 139 cases (59.1%), blood transfusion 39 cases (16.6%), dentistry procedures 175 cases (74.5%), positive family for hcv infection 30 cases (12.8%). finally, no hcv infection was found among our patients, so as expected no association was observed between hcv infection and diabetes duration and various levels of hba1c. in the present study, no hcv infection was reported among our patients, which is congruent with another study in iran. it seems that geographical distribution of various hlas and prevalence of hcv infection in a region are the important factors for finding any relationship between hcv infection and diabetes incidence.