Levels of serum leptin, cholecystokinin, plasma lipid and lipoprotein differ between patients with gallstone or/and those with hepatolithiasis.
BACKGROUND
A significant relationship exists among food intake and nutritional status and cholelithiasis, including gallstone and hepatolithiasis. Leptin is associated with obesity. This study was to investigate the differences in serum leptin levels in patients with gallstone and hepatolithiasis and to evaluate the relationships among leptin, cholecystokinin (CCK), lipid and lipoprotein concentrations.


METHODS
Body mass index (BMI), serum leptin, CCK, insulin, lipid and lipoprotein concentrations, and liver function were measured in 382 patients with gallstone (GS group), 83 patients with hepatolithiasis (HS group) and 30 healthy controls (control group). The values of these indices were compared among the groups. In each group, Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient among these indices were evaluated.


RESULTS
There were notable differences in serum leptin, CCK, total cholesterol, total triglycerides, apolipoprotein-a (APO-a), globulin, direct reacting bilirubin, and BMI between the GS and HS groups (P<0.05). Positive correlations between serum leptin and BMI, CCK, total cholesterol, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), aminotransferase, and insulin were found in the GS group (P<0.05). Positive correlations were observed between serum leptin and CCK, bilirubin, aminotransferase, GGT, in the HS group (P<0.05), but negative correlations between serum leptin and albumin or APO-a (P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Leptin participates in modulating lipid metabolism. There are notable differences in leptin, serum lipid, and CCK between patients with gallstone and those with hepatolithiasis. The role of leptin in the pathophysiological course of cholelithiasis needs further investigation.
Lei
Zheng-Ming
ZM
Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Affiliated Hospital, Luzhou Medical College, Luzhou 646000, China. minglei762@sina.com
Ye
Ming-Xin
MX
Fu
Wen-Guang
WG
Chen
Yue
Y
Fang
Cheng
C
Li
Jing
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001054:Apolipoproteins A / Q000097:blood; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000097:blood*; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000097:blood*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000097:blood*; D005916:Globulins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001054:Apolipoproteins A; D005916:Globulins; D020738:Leptin; D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D002766:Cholecystokinin; D002784:Cholesterol; D001663:Bilirubin