ABSTRACT
UNLABELLED: Background and rational. Data on newer adipokines and interleukins in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are inconclusive. The primary aim of this study was the evaluation of serum vaspin, resistin, retinol-binding protein (RBP)-4, interleukin (IL)-1α and IL-6 levels in NAFLD patients compared to matched controls, and their association with disease severity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-nine consecutively enrolled NAFLD patients with histologically confirmed nonalcoholic simple steatosis (SS; n = 15) or steatohepatitis (NASH; n = 14) and 25 matched controls without NAFLD were recruited. Serum vaspin, resistin, RBP-4, IL-1α and IL-6 and biochemical tests were measured. RESULTS: Serum vaspin levels were lower and IL-6 levels higher in NASH patients than controls, but similar between controls and SS patients, or NASH and SS patients (vaspin, controls: 728.5 ± 39.3; SS: 634.6 ± 63.7; NASH: 531.5 ± 52.0 pg/mL; p for trend 0.028; IL-6, controls: 1.5 ± 0.2; SS: 2.5 ± 0.6; NASH: 3.0 ± 0.6 pg/mL; p for trend 0.032). However, after adjustment for body mass index or waist circumference, both vaspin and IL-6 did not remain significantly different between groups. Resistin, RBP-4 and IL-1α were not statistically different between groups. None of the selected adipokines or interleukins could independently differentiate NAFLD from SS, or patients with more severe from less severe histological lesions. CONCLUSION: Lower circulating vaspin, but higher IL-6 levels were observed in NASH patients than controls, whereas resistin, RBP-4 and IL-1α levels were similar between groups. However, these differences did not remain robust after adjustment for body mass index or waist circumference.
