BACKGROUND: Steatosis is common in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients and likely accelerates fibrosis progression. Leptin, the peptide product of the obesity gene (ob), has been implicated in hepatic fibrogenesis; circulating levels of leptin correlate with body fat mass. The objective of the present study was to determine the clinical and histological correlates of serum leptin in HCV-infected patients, and to determine its utility in predicting liver histological lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 62 patients with chronic HCV, serum leptin was measured using a commercially available immunoassay. Associations between leptin, metabolic parameters, and severe hepatic fibrosis (stages 2 to 4) and steatosis (30% or greater) were determined. The utility of leptin in predicting liver histology was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The median body mass index (BMI) was 23.2 kg/m2 (range 17.7 kg/m2 to 35.6 kg/m2); 16% of patients (n=10) had HCV genotype 3. Severe fibrosis and steatosis were present in 23% and 13% of patients, respectively. Leptin was strongly correlated with the BMI, and its levels were higher in women. BMI-corrected leptin levels were not independently associated with severe fibrosis but were significantly associated with steatosis (OR of 1.07; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.04). On it own, leptin was poorly predictive of severe steatosis (area under the ROC curve was 0.64; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.87). However, its accuracy improved with the addition of HCV genotype (area under the ROC curve was 0.86; 95% CI 0.72 to 1.00; P=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: As observed in the non-HCV setting, serum leptin correlates with BMI; higher leptin levels are found in women than men with chronic HCV. Serum leptin is a poor predictor of HCV-related fibrosis but may play a role in predicting steatosis when combined with HCV genotype.
BACKGROUND:Steatosis is common in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infectedpatients and likely accelerates fibrosis progression. Leptin, the peptide product of the obesity gene (ob), has been implicated in hepatic fibrogenesis; circulating levels of leptin correlate with body fat mass. The objective of the present study was to determine the clinical and histological correlates of serum leptin in HCV-infectedpatients, and to determine its utility in predicting liver histological lesions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 62 patients with chronic HCV, serum leptin was measured using a commercially available immunoassay. Associations between leptin, metabolic parameters, and severe hepatic fibrosis (stages 2 to 4) and steatosis (30% or greater) were determined. The utility of leptin in predicting liver histology was determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: The median body mass index (BMI) was 23.2 kg/m2 (range 17.7 kg/m2 to 35.6 kg/m2); 16% of patients (n=10) had HCV genotype 3. Severe fibrosis and steatosis were present in 23% and 13% of patients, respectively. Leptin was strongly correlated with the BMI, and its levels were higher in women. BMI-corrected leptin levels were not independently associated with severe fibrosis but were significantly associated with steatosis (OR of 1.07; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.04). On it own, leptin was poorly predictive of severe steatosis (area under the ROC curve was 0.64; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.87). However, its accuracy improved with the addition of HCV genotype (area under the ROC curve was 0.86; 95% CI 0.72 to 1.00; P=0.07). CONCLUSIONS: As observed in the non-HCV setting, serum leptin correlates with BMI; higher leptin levels are found in women than men with chronic HCV. Serum leptin is a poor predictor of HCV-related fibrosis but may play a role in predicting steatosis when combined with HCV genotype.
Authors: T Piche; F Vandenbos; A Abakar-Mahamat; G Vanbiervliet; E M Barjoan; G Calle; J Giudicelli; B Ferrua; C Laffont; S Benzaken; A Tran Journal: J Viral Hepat Date: 2004-01 Impact factor: 3.728
Authors: T Asselah; N Boyer; M-C Guimont; D Cazals-Hatem; F Tubach; K Nahon; H Daïkha; D Vidaud; M Martinot; M Vidaud; C Degott; D Valla; P Marcellin Journal: Gut Date: 2003-11 Impact factor: 23.059
Authors: R V Considine; M K Sinha; M L Heiman; A Kriauciunas; T W Stephens; M R Nyce; J P Ohannesian; C C Marco; L J McKee; T L Bauer Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1996-02-01 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Emilio González-Reimers; Javier López-Prieto; Geraldine Quintero-Platt; Ricardo Pelazas-González; M Remedios Alemán-Valls; Onán Pérez-Hernández; M José de-la-Vega-Prieto; M Angeles Gómez-Rodríguez; Candelaria Martín-González; Francisco Santolaria-Fernández Journal: World J Hepatol Date: 2016-01-08
Authors: Maite Martínez-Uña; Yaiza López-Mancheño; Carlos Diéguez; Manuel A Fernández-Rojo; Marta G Novelle Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2020-12-09 Impact factor: 5.923