Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major cause of liver — related morbidity and is
frequently associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. The recently discovered hormone
adiponectin is produced by adipose tissue, and low plasma adiponectin is considered a key
factor in the development of the insulin resistance underlying this disease, the aim was to
study the level of plasma adiponectin in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver with type 2 DM,
and chronic hepatitis C in comparison with a control group.
Design & Methods: The study was conducted on 60 individuals, 37 males & 23 females,
their age ranged from 26 to 74 ys, they were categorized into 3 groups: G 1: 20 apparently
healthy individuals serving as a control group, 02 : 20 patients with type 2 DM and fatty
liver, 03 : 20 patients with chronic hepatitis C and fatty liver. All cases underwent full
clinical examination & laboratory investigations, including (CBC), (ESR), liver & kidney —
function tests fasting & 2 hours PP blood glucose, lipograms, polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) for HCV-RNA in addition to abdominal ultrasonography and estimation of serum
adiponectin level by ELISA technique.
Results: a significantly decreased plasma adiponectin levels were found in patients with fatty
liver disease when compared to the control group. In addition, plasma adiponectin in group 2
(DM) showed significant positive correlation with fasting blood glucose level (r = -52, p
<0.05). However plasma adiponectin levels, were significantly lower in group 3 (HCV) than
in the other groups. A significant lower adiponectin level was observed in males in all groups.
Further more plasma adiponectin in group 3 (HCV) showed significant positive correlation
with blood urea (r = 0.48, P <0.05) and HDL level (r = 0.49, P <0.05).
Conclusion : plasma adiponectin level is decreased in patients with NAFLD with type 2 DM
& chronic HCV and may suggest fat accumulation in the liver. |
