title: High molecular weight form of adiponectin levels of Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to clarify the correlation between serum adiponectin level and the properties of hepatitis C virus (HCV).
  
  
  METHODS
  A meal test was carried out for insulin resistance assessment in 81 patients with chronic HCV infection. Blood samples were taken before and after the test to measure serum insulin and plasma glucose (PG). The adiponectin level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in each patient.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum adiponectin levels were significantly correlated with the area under the insulin curve (AUC-insulin)during the meal test and with serum HCV-RNA level. Multiple regression analysis showed age to be a significant independent parameter associated with an increased adiponectin level, whereas male sex, fasting insulin, and serum HCV-RNA level were significant independent parameters associated with a decreased adiponectin level.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is possible that insulin resistance in patients with chronic HCV infection is related to adiponectin secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Medicine, Kyushu University Hospital, and Department of Environmental Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Furusyo
authors.forename: Yasunori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sawayama
authors.forename: Shinji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toyoda
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takeoka
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murata
authors.forename: Hachiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohnishi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hayashi