ABSTRACT
There is accumulating evidence that leptin has a pleiotropic role in hematopoiesis, immune response, fibro-genesis, and hepatocarcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between leptin levels and bone mineral density in HCV chronic liver disease patients. A medical history to retrieve information about health status, current medications and history of viral or toxic hepatitis; a physical examinations including height and weight; a fasting blood draw for the determination of liver profile and leptin. BMD values were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry [DEXA] at the L2-L4 lumbar spine and femoral neck. Fasting leptin was highly increased in HCV CLD patients with osteopenia than HCV CLD patients with normal hone mineral density [p<0.05]. Leptin showed a significant negative correlation with bone mineral density [BMD] in HCV CLD patients [r=-0.191, p=0.039] and significant positive correlation with age [r=0.331, p=0.041]. Serum concentrations of leptin is positively correlated in chronic liver disease patients with age and negatively correlated with BMD especially in patients with hepatitis C infection