Relationship between the frequency of hepatitis B virus infections and levels of serum adipokines in patients with hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance

Abstract

Objective:Although the steatogenic effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has been established in several studies, it is not yet known whether it leads to hepatosteatosis in anti-HBc IgG-positive patients. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the frequency of HBV and levels of serum adipokines in patients with hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance. Methods: Eighty patients diagnosed with hepatosteatosis by ultrasonography, who were admitted to our polyclinic between July 2011 and June 2012 for various reasons, and who had insulin resistance were included. Homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance of >2.7 was considered as insulin resistance, and these patients was investigated for anti-HBc IgG. The anti-HBc IgG level was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of adiponectin, resistin, and leptin in serum samples were analyzed in anti-HBc IgG (+) and anti-HBc IgG (−) groups. Results: Anti-HBc IgG was positive in 29 (36.2%) patients and negative in 51 (63.8%). While the level of leptin in the anti-HBc IgG (+) group was 31569.72±14027.64 ng/mL, it was 25410.73±10978.26 ng/mL in the anti-HBc IgG (−) group. The levels of leptin in the anti-HBc IgG (+) and anti-HBc IgG (−) groups were statistically significant (p=0.047). However, levels of adiponectin and resistin were not different between the groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that anti-HBc IgG positivity is involved in the etiology of hepatosteatosis and insulin resistance as well.

The Importance of Serum Leptin Level in Chronic Viral Hepatitis B and C

“…A positive relationship was shown between leptin and IL-6, but no relationship was found between HBV DNA and leptin (8). It has been found that leptin levels are not associated with HCV RNA (6).…”

“…In some studies, no significant relationship was found between serum leptin levels and liver fibrosis in cases with CHB, while some were found to be associated with liver fibrosis (8). The relationship between leptin and hepatic fibrosis in the course of liver disease associated with HCV infection is controversial.…”

“…Cytokines play an important role in the coordination of processes such as liver growth and regeneration, inflammatory events such as viral liver disease, fibrosis and cirrhosis (8). In this study, serum leptin levels and the relationship of leptin with liver fibrosis in CHB and CHC cases were evaluated.…”

“…In addition, leptin levels in CHC were found to be high in severe hepatic fibrosis and it was found that leptin levels increased as the level of fibrosis increased. The number of studies investigating the relationship between HBV infection and leptin is less than HCV infection (8). In cases of CHC, higher serum leptin levels have been associated with the presence of steatosis (4).…”

Non-Invasive, Fast and Reliable Assessment of Age- And Gender-Related Pancreas and Liver Fat Content in Completely Healthy Individuals: Modified Dixon Method with 3 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…Studies on patients with chronic hepatitis C who had their biopsies before therapeutic trials showed a correlation between BMI and liver steatosis [23]. However, liver steatosis did not show a significant correlation with BMI in patients with chronic hepatitis B [24]. Hines et al [25] reported an exponential relationship between MR fat-signal fraction and BMI with IDEAL algorithm.…”