Abstract
BackgroundAdiponectin is shown to be inversely associated with development and progression of various cancers. We evaluated whether adiponectin level was associated with the prevalence and histological grade of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.MethodsA case-control study was conducted on 97 HCC patients (cases) and 97 patients (controls) matched for sex, Child-Pugh grade and platelet count in patients with HCV infection. The serum total and high molecular weight (HMW) adiponectin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and examined in their association with the prevalence of HCC. In addition, the relationship between these adiponectin levels and body mass index (BMI), progression of liver fibrosis, and histological grade of HCC was also evaluated. Liver fibrosis was assessed using the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI).ResultsThere were no significant differences in the serum total and HMW adiponectin levels between cases and controls. Moreover, there were no inverse associations between serum total and HMW adiponectin levels and BMI in both cases and controls. On the other hand, serum total and HMW adiponectin levels are positively correlated with APRI in both cases (r = 0.491, P<0.001 and r = 0.485, P<0.001, respectively) and controls (r = 0.482, P<0.001 and r = 0.476, P<0.001, respectively). Interestingly, lower serum total (OR 11.76, 95% CI: 2.97–46.66 [P<0.001]) and HMW (OR 10.24, CI: 2.80–37.40 [P<0.001] adiponectin levels were independent risk factors of worse histological grade of HCC.ConclusionsOur results suggested that serum total and HMW adiponectin levels were predictors of liver fibrosis, but not prevalence of HCC in patients with HCV infection. Moreover, low these adiponectin levels were significantly associated with worse histological grades.
Highlights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world
This trend is attributed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, and in Japan, over 70% of all hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are related to chronic liver disease with HCV infection [2]
No significant differences were found between cases and controls according to AST level, alanine transaminase (ALT) level, aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI), diabetes mellitus, or body mass index (BMI)
Summary
The incidence of HCC has increased in Eastern Asia and Africa during the past several decades, and has increased in the United States [1] In many countries, this trend is attributed to hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, and in Japan, over 70% of all HCC are related to chronic liver disease with HCV infection [2]. In patients with HCV infection, several studies have shown that obesity was associated with disease progression [4,5] and with HCC development [9,10]. We evaluated whether adiponectin level was associated with the prevalence and histological grade of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and liver fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection
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