Adipocytokines and liver fibrosis stages in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

Background: Adipocytokines play an important role in lipid metabolism and liver disease progression. However, the interactions between hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and adipocytokines remain largely unknown.

Aims: To investigate the association of HBV infection with adipocytokines in HBV-infected and noninfected subjects. In addition, the impact of adipocytokines on serum HBV DNA, HBsAg levels and liver fibrosis stage was also examined.

Methods: A case-control analysis of patients with and without chronic HBV infection was performed. The HBV group consisted of 187 patients with chronic HBV infection, and the control group consisted of 184 age-, gender- and body mass index-matched subjects without HBV infection. Fasting blood glucose, lipid profiles, adiponectin, leptin and visfatin levels were compared between the two groups. APRI and FIB-4 were calculated to estimate the severity of liver fibrosis.

Results: Most of the enrolled subjects had lower ALT levels [228 (57.7%) ALT < ULN] and milder hepatic fibrosis [381 (96.5%) APRI < 0.7; 307 (77.7%) FIB4 < 1.45]. The HBV group had significantly higher serum adiponectin and visfatin but lower leptin levels than the control group. This difference remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, BMI and ALT levels (p < 0.05). Serum adiponectin, leptin and visfatin levels were significantly associated with serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels (p < 0.05). In addition, a higher serum adiponectin level was associated with advanced liver fibrosis in elder male HBeAg-negative patients.

Conclusions: Patients with chronic HBV infection have significantly higher serum adiponectin and visfatin but lower leptin levels than healthy controls. Serum adipocytokine levels independently correlate with HBV viremia, HBsAg levels and liver fibrosis stages.