[Plasma leptin levels in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and their relationship with degree of fibrosis].
OBJECTIVE
a) To analyze plasma leptin levels in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and b) to investigate the relationship between leptin levels and liver fibrosis stage in a cohort of patients with PBC.


METHODS
Serum leptin levels were evaluated through radioimmunoassay in 30 patients with PBC (mean age: 37.2 +/- 11.0 years; range:19-75) and in 29 controls matched for age and weight. Venous blood obtained after a 12-hour fast was centrifuged in EDTA tubes. Weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were measured using standard methods. Hepatitis C virus RNA was determined using qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In all patients liver biopsies were performed and the degree of fibrosis and extent of inflammatory infiltrate were evaluated.


RESULTS
Plasma leptin levels in patients with PBC were lower than those obtained in control subjects (p<0.0001). No significant differences were found between the two groups in age, weight, height, BMI or body fat index. There was a clear increase in serum leptin levels according to histological stage of PBC (stage I: 2.1 ng/ml; stage II: 4.3 ng/ml; stage III: 5.3 ng/ml; stage IV: 12.1 ng/ml; p<0.01)


CONCLUSIONS
The present study demonstrates the correlation between leptin and stage of liver fibrosis in a cohort of patients with PBC, providing further evidence of the involvement of leptin in the process of liver fibrosis.
García-Suárez
C
C
Servicio de Aparato Digestivo, Hospital Universitario Valdecilla, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, España.
Crespo
J
J
Fernández-Gil
P Luis
PL
Amado
J A
JA
García-Unzueta
M T
MT
Pons Romero
F
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D020738:Leptin