Significance of serum adiponectin levels in patients with chronic liver disease.
Adiponectin, which plays a pivotal role in metabolic liver diseases, is reduced in concentration in patients with NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis). The aim of the present study was to determine adiponectin concentrations in patients with different forms and stages of chronic liver diseases. Serum adiponectin concentrations were measured in 232 fasting patients with chronic liver disease: 64 with NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease), 123 with other chronic liver disease (e.g. viral hepatitis, n=71; autoimmune disease, n=18; alcohol-induced liver disease, n=3; or elevated liver enzymes of unknown origin, n=31) and 45 with cirrhosis. Circulating adiponectin levels were significantly lower in patients with NAFLD in comparison with patients with other chronic liver disease (4.8+/-3.5 compared with 10.4+/-6.3 microg/ml respectively; P<0.0001). Circulating adiponectin levels were significantly higher in patients with cirrhosis in comparison with patients without cirrhosis (18.6+/-14.5 compared with 8.4+/-6.1 microg/ml respectively; P<0.0001). Adiponectin concentrations correlated negatively with body weight (P<0.001), serum triacylglycerols (triglycerides) (P<0.001) and, in women, with BMI (body mass index) (P<0.001). Adiponectin concentrations correlated positively with serum bile acids (P<0.001), serum hyaluronic acid (P<0.001) and elastography values (P<0.001). Adiponectin levels were decreased in patients with NAFLD. In conclusion, adiponectin levels correlate positively with surrogate markers of hepatic fibrosis (transient elastography, fasting serum bile acids and hyaluronate) and are significantly elevated in cases of cirrhosis.
Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Visceral Research, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Maria Luisa
ML
Balmer
Jeannine
J
Joneli
Alain
A
Schoepfer
Felix
F
Stickel
Wolfgang
W
Thormann
Jean-François
JF
Dufour
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
D052242:Adiponectin; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D015415:Biomarkers; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid