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Serum Leptin Level Associated with Severity of Liver Fibrosis & Decreased After Pegasys Treatment in Chronic Hepatitis B
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AASLD, Nov 2005, San Francisco
Hong Ma, Ren Jiangbo, Jia Jidong, Wang Baoen, Liver Research Center, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
The results suggest that leptin serum concentration may be a useful marker for fibrosis.
Objective: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship of serum leptin levels and severity of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
Previous research has suggested that leptin, a hormone produced by adipocytes and involved in regulating food intake and energy balance, may be involved in fibrogenesis, it was not clear whether leptin increased in proportion to the degree of fibrosis.
Methods: Serum leptin levels were determined in 40 patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis B and 20 cases of healthy controls. 20 of the 40 patients received 48 weeks of Peginterferon Alfa-2a (40kD) treatment and liver biopsies were repeated after 24 weeks of follow-up. The histological response were assessed according to modified Scheuer staging and Chevallier’s scoring
system. Serum leptin levels in all the 60 samples of chronic hepatitis B patients were analyzed with the liver fibrosis staging
Results:
Serum leptin was increased significantly in patients with hepatitis B compared with the healthy controls (12.89 ± 7.47 vs 2.57 ± 1.29 ng/ml, P <0.01).
In patients with fibrosis staging 0 through 4, leptin levels were 2.62 ± 0.89 ng/ml, 5.26 ± 1.60 ng/ml, 13.15 ± 4.52 ng/ml, 17.08 ± 3.78 ng/ml and 21.56 ± 5.89 ng/ml, respectively, showing positive correlation with hepatic fibrosis
staging (r=0.845, P<0.01).
In 20 patients treated with Peginterferon Alfa-2a, fibrosis score decreased from 10.91 ± 6.32 to 7.43 ± 4.15 (P=0.047), whereas serum leptin level decreased significantly from 18.35 ± 4.93 to 13.57 ± 5.39 ( P=0.006)
Conclusion: Serum leptin level is associated with the severity of liver fibrosis and decreased after Peginterferon Alfa-2a (40kD) treatment in chronic hepatitis B.
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