Hepatic and plasma leptin levels in chronic hepatitis C

Background: Plasma leptin levels are known to affect the immune response by regulating T cell activation and proliferation, macrophage phagocytosis and cytokine production and secretion. Moreover increased leptin levels are associated with reduced hepatic injury but increased fibrosis to a variety of hepatic insults. Aim: To define the plasma leptin level in individuals with chronic hepatitis C before and after treatment with interferon treatment therapy and to examine the relationships between viral load, genotype, hepatic inflammatory as well as fibrosis response and the plasma leptin level. Results: Females are found to have greater plasma levels than males (p < 0.05). Males with genotype 1 infection had greater leptin levels than those with other viral genotypes (p < 0.05). Plasma leptin levels are consistently greater than hepatic leptin levels (p < 0.01). Leptin levels are greater in individuals with fibrosis scores equal to or greater than 2 (p < 0.05). Moreover, plasma leptin level increases as do serum alkaline phosphatase levels (p < 0.05). The most important determinant of the plasma leptin level was the body mass index (p < 0.01). Conclusions: Plasma leptin levels decline in males with chronic hepatitis C with successful treatment with IFN. Plasma leptin levels increase with hepatic fibrosis stage and increase in individuals with higher levels of alkaline phosphatase than those with lesser degree of fibrosis and lower alkaline phosphatase levels.