Serum leptin concentrations in patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis c infection and its correlation with soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor I levels

ABSTRACT

The aim of this work is to study the serum levels of leptin and sTNF-RI and study the correlation between these two factors in patients with liver cirrhosis due to HCV. The present study was performed on 80 individuals; 60 patients with liver cirrhosis due to HCV Infection and 20 normal age and sex matched subjects as a control group. Serum leptin and sTNF-RI levels were measured by ELI.SA. The results showed significantly elevated serum leptin. [the mean value +/- SD 8.8 +/- 4.0 ng/mL vs 4.4 +/- 2.69 ng/ml. p<0.001], and serum sTNF-RI[mean +/- SD 6.2 +/- 2.3 ng/mI vs 2.25 +/- 0.39 ng/mI, P<0.001] in cirrhotic patients versus controls. There was positive significant correlation between serum leptin and serum total bilirubin [p<0.05] and negative significant correlation with serum albumin, and total protein [p<0.01]. There was positive significant correlation between serum sTNF-RI and serum total bilirubin. direct bilirubin, AST and ALP [p<0.05] and negative significant correlation with serum albumin, total protein. A /G ratio [p<0.01] and BMI [p<0.05]. There was Positive significant correlation between serum sTNF-RI and serum leptin [r=0.62, P=0.001]. In conclusion, in patients with liver cirrhosis, there is increase in the serum level of leptin due to increased levels of some cytokines as sTNF-RI the increase in serum leptin leads to loss of appetite and malnutrition