[Evaluation of serum visfatin concentrations in children with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease].
Recently the adipokin role in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been suggested. The role of leptin and adiponectin is rather well known, however, there are only a few data concerning visfatin.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the serum level of visfatin in obese children with NAFLD.


METHODS
Fasting serum level of visfatin was determined (ELISA) in 42 consecutive obese children (BMI >97 percentyla, aged 7-17 years, mean age 12 years) with suspected liver disease (hepatomegaly and/or elevation of transaminases and/or liver steatosis in ultrasound). Viral hepatitis, metabolic liver diseases and autoimmune hepatitis were excluded in all children.


RESULTS
A fatty liver was confirmed in 30 children by ultrasonography; 16 of them also had increased ALT activity (NAFLD). Serum visfatin concentration in the examined group was significantly higher than in controls (n=20; p = 0.000085). Similarly, higher concentration of this adipokin was found in children with NAFLD than in controls (p = 0.0006). We also found a positive correlation between visfatin and IL-6 in children with NAFLD (r = 0.495; p = 0.05). There were no correlations between visfatin and anthropometric parameters, transaminases, lipids and HOMA-IR.


CONCLUSIONS
The highest serum visfatin concentration in children with NAFLD and correlation between this adipokin and IL-6 suggests the role of visfatin in the development of liver inflammation in obese children with liver steatosis.
Romanowska
Anna
A
Uniwersytet Medyczny w Białymstoku, Klinika Pediatrii, Gastroenterologii i Alergologii Dzieciecej.
Lebensztejn
Dariusz Marek
DM
D054392:Adipokines / Q000097:blood; D000293:Adolescent; D015415:Biomarkers; D002648:Child; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography
D054392:Adipokines; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase