title: Child-Pugh classification dependent alterations in serum leptin levels among cirrhotic patients: a case controlled study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  As anorexia and hypermetabolism are common in cirrhosis, leptin levels may be increased in this disease. In this study, we investigated the relation between the severity of disease and serum leptin levels in post-hepatitis cirrhosis and the role of body composition, gender and viral aetiology of cirrhosis in this association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five cases with post-hepatitis cirrhosis and 15 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Body composition including body mass index, body fat percentage and body fat mass were determined. Serum leptin levels were assayed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leptin levels were significantly higher among cirrhotic patients independent of sex compared to controls (p = 0.001). Female patients in both groups have had higher leptin levels than males (in cirrhotics p = 0.029, in controls p = 0.02). Cirrhotic patients in each of A, B and C subgroups according to the Child- Pugh classification revealed significantly different levels compared to controls (p = 0.046, p = 0.004, p = 0.0001, respectively). Male cirrhotics in Child-Pugh Class B and C subgroups had significantly higher leptin levels compared to male controls (p = 0.006, p = 0.008). On the other hand, female patients only in Child Pugh class C subgroup have had higher levels of serum leptin compared to controls (p = 0.022).Child-Pugh classification has been found to be the sole discriminator in determination of leptin levels in cirrhotics by linear regression (beta: 0.435 p = 0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum leptin levels increase in advanced liver disease independently of gender, body composition in posthepatitic cirrhosis. The increase is more abundant among patients that belong to C subgroup according to the Child- Pugh classification.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Harran University, Medical Faculty, Sanliurfa, Turkey. fusunbol@yahoo.ca.
authors.forename: Fusun F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Bolukbas
authors.forename: Cengiz
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bolukbas
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horoz
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gumus
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erdogan
authors.forename: Fadile
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zeyrek
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yayla
authors.forename: Oya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ovunc
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000821:virology; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin