Insulin/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: A newly-discovered predictor of esophageal varices in patients with hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis in the absence of diabetes mellitus

Background/Aims Insulin resistance (IR) is closely linked with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) and its complications, particularly hepatic fibrosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate some biochemical markers that are potentially related to IR as predictors of esophageal varices (EV) in patients with compensated HCV cirrhosis who do not have diabetes or metabolic syndrome.