The severity of liver fibrosis is associated with high leptin levels in chronic Hepatitis C

  1. T. Piche1,
  2. F. Vandenbos2,
  3. A. Abakar-Mahamat1,
  4. G. Vanbiervliet1,
  5. E. M. Barjoan1,
  6. G. Calle1,
  7. J. Giudicelli3,
  8. B. Ferrua3,
  9. C. Laffont4,
  10. S. Benzaken5,
  11. A. Tran1

Article first published online: 23 JAN 2004

DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2003.00483.x

Issue

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Journal of Viral Hepatitis

Volume 11, Issue 1, pages 91–96, January 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Piche, T., Vandenbos, F., Abakar-Mahamat, A., Vanbiervliet, G., Barjoan, E. M., Calle, G., Giudicelli, J., Ferrua, B., Laffont, C., Benzaken, S. and Tran, A. (2004), The severity of liver fibrosis is associated with high leptin levels in chronic Hepatitis C. Journal of Viral Hepatitis, 11: 91–96. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2893.2003.00483.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Hepatogastroenterology

  2. 2

    Department of Pathology

  3. 3

    Department of Biochemistry

  4. 4

    Department of Virology

  5. 5

    Department of Immunology, CHU de NICE, France

*Dr Thierry Piche, Hôpital de l'Archet 2, Hépatogastroenterologie, BP 3079, 06202 NICE Cedex 3, France. E-mail: tpiche@fc.horus-medical.fr

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 23 JAN 2004
  2. Article first published online: 23 JAN 2004
  3. Received July 2003; accepted for publication July 2003

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (91K)

Keywords:

  • chronic hepatitis C;
  • leptin;
  • liver fibrosis

Summary.  Recent attention has focused on the liver profibrogenic role of leptin in animal models. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of leptin and TNF-α in the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). We used a radioimmunoassay to determine serum leptin concentrations in 77 consecutive patients with CHC and 22 healthy controls. Leptin was correlated with liver histological (METAVIR) and metabolic indices. Sixty five patients had none to moderate liver fibrosis (F0-F2) and twelve severe fibrosis (F3-F4). Steatosis was observed in all but 27 patients. Leptin was significantly increased in patients compared with controls and was significantly more elevated in females both in patients and controls. The age, age at infection, prothrombin index, body mass index (BMI), triglycerides, glycaemia, ferritin, leptin and TNF-α, were associated with severe fibrosis. Steatosis was significantly more pronounced in patients with severe than those without or moderate fibrosis (P = 0.04). Only leptin was significantly and independently associated with severe fibrosis (OR = 1.2, CI 95%: 1.1–1.4, P = 0.03). Leptin was significantly associated with BMI (r = 0.64, P < 0.001) and glycaemia (r = 0.43, P < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between steatosis and BMI (r = 0.30, P < 0.01) and glycaemia (r = 0.30, P < 0.01). In patients with CHC and higher BMI and glycaemia levels, the severity of liver fibrosis is associated with serum leptin. TNF-α is a putative candidate involved in the mechanism.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (91K)