title: Correlation of serum leptin levels with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function in Chinese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine serum leptin levels and investigate their correlations with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and their potential clinical implications.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two chronic HCV-infected patients without anti-viral treatment were enrolled in this study, 30 patients had chronic hepatitis C, 10 had cirrhosis, and 2 had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thirty age- and sex-matched healthy individuals served as controls. Serum leptin levels were determined by ELISA. The biochemical liver function and serum lipids were determined at the same time. The height and body weight of patients and controls were measured, and body mass index (BMI) and body fat were calculated simultaneously. The correlations of serum leptin levels with anthropometric and metabolic parameters and biochemical liver function were assessed statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of serum leptin levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C, HCV-associated cirrhosis, HCV-associated HCC and control groups was (6.13+/-3.94), (5.25+/-4.21), (4.17+/-0.28), and (3.59+/-3.44) ng/mL, respectively. The serum leptin level in patients with chronic hepatitis C was significantly higher than that in controls. The serum leptin levels between cirrhotic patients and controls and between male and female cirrhotic patients had no significant difference. Serum leptin levels were positively-correlated with body fat, BMI, and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) in patients with chronic HCV infection. The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were closely-correlated with BMI in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HCV infection interferes with fat and lipid metabolism in patients with chronic HCV infection and leptin may play a role in hepatosteatosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710061, Shaanxi Province, China. zhengwenl@sohu.com
authors.forename: Zheng-Wen
authors.initials: ZW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ni
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qun-Ying
authors.initials: QY
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Jun-Tao
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Yong-Lie
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Jian-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Ya-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lie-Ting
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Xiao-Qin
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin