Serum Adiponectin Increases with Advancing Liver Fibrosis in People with Chronic Hepatitis B

Despite the possible role of adiponectin in the pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis, few studies have assessed this association in patients with different stages of liver fibrosis.

As described in the August 2007 Journal of Hepatology, researchers in Hong Kong studied the role of adiponectin in 2 chronic hepatitis B patient cohorts.

The investigators assessed 100 liver biopsy specimens from chronic hepatitis B patients with different stages of fibrosis, as well as 38 paired liver biopsies from hepatitis B "e" antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients randomized to receive lamivudine (n=15), pegylated interferon alfa-2a (Pegasys) (n=15), or Pegasys plus lamivudine (n=8). Treatment lasted for 48 weeks. Serum adiponectin was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

• Serum adiponectin was detected at levels ranging over 4-fold in magnitude with advancing fibrosis stage, and correlated positively with fibrosis stage (P < 0.001).

• Chronic hepatitis B patients with stage 0-1 (absent to mild) fibrosis had a higher proportion of the high molecular weight form of adiponectin compared to patients with liver cirrhosis (51.2% vs 40.9%, respectively; P = 0.001).

• After antiviral therapy, patients with reduced fibrosis demonstrated a marked decline in serum adiponectin level and an increase in the high molecular weight form of adiponectin.

Conclusion

"Serum adiponectin may have a role in fibrosis progression in chronic hepatitis B infection," the authors concluded. "A marked decline in serum adiponectin after antiviral therapy is associated with fibrosis reduction."

07/17/07

Reference
CK Hui, HY Zhang, NP Lee, and others. Serum adiponectin is increased in advancing liver fibrosis and declines with reduction in fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B. Journal of Hepatology 47(2): 191-202.August 2007.