Child-Pugh classification dependent alterations in serum leptin levels among cirrhotic patients: a case controlled study.
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.
Bolukbas
Fusun F
FF
Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Harran University, Medical Faculty, Sanliurfa, Turkey. fusunbol@yahoo.ca.
Bolukbas
Cengiz
C
Horoz
Mehmet
M
Gumus
Mahmut
M
Erdogan
Mehmet
M
Zeyrek
Fadile
F
Yayla
Ali
A
Ovunc
Oya
O
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
D020738:Leptin