Diagnostic role of resistin in nonalchoholic fatty liver disease

ABSTRACT

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease [NAFLD] is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Insulin resistance is believed to be a key factor in the development of fatty liver. Moreover, insulin resistance states characterized by elevated expression and production of several cytokines have been implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of NAFLD but direct evidence of the role of resistin in NAFLD is lacking. To determine the circulating resistin level in patients affected by NAFLD and to correlate resistin level with insulin sensitivity, liver functions and histological features. This study included 100 subjects divided into forty patients with NAFLD, forty obese persons with BMI >30 having normal transaminases and normal liver ultrasound and twenty controls with BMI < 20. For all subjects serum resistin was measured. Homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] was calculated and liver profile was assessed. Liver biopsy was done in NAFLD patients. Serum resistin was higher in patients with NAFLD [16.2 +/- 4 ng/ml] compared to obese and control groups [6.8 +/- 4.1 and 3.4 +/- 1.1 [ng/ml]] respectively [p <0.01]. Serum resistin was higher in histologically advanced cases of NAFLD compared to simple steatosis [19.2 +/- 3.6 vs. 13.5 +/- 2.7] respectively [p < 0.01]. Moreover serum resistin correlated positively with 8M I, HOMA, highly sensitive CRP, AST and ALT. Resistin has a role in pathogenesis of NAFLD. Its level is a predictive of histology in NAFLD. So The use or serum resistin assay as a simple diagnostic biomarker for NAFLD is recommended