Insulin resistance, serum visfatin, and adiponectin levels are associated with metabolic disorders in chronic hepatitis C virus-infected patients

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of visfatin, adiponectin, and insulin resistance (IR) in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and their relations to the biochemical markers of hepatitis C. Materials and methods This study was carried out on 40 HCV-infected patients and 40 sex/age/BMI-matched healthy adults. Lipid profile, liver function tests, IR, serum adiponectin, and visfatin of all patients were examined. Correlations between IR, adiponectin, visfatin, and other variables were analyzed. Results The levels of visfatin and adiponectin were significantly lower in HCV patients compared with healthy controls. However, IR of HCV patients were higher than those of healthy controls. IR was significantly correlated to triglycerides, visfatin was closely related to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, whereas adiponectin was associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These results suggest that IR, serum visfatin, and adiponectin levels are associated with metabolic disorders in chronic HCV-infected patients. Conclusion IR, adiponectin, and visfatin were related to several metabolic markers of HCV, suggesting the characteristics of HCV-related metabolic abnormalities. (C) 2013 Wolters Kluwer Health vertical bar Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.