Significance of Serum Adiponectin and Insulin Resistance Levels in Diagnosis of Egyptian Patients with Chronic Liver Disease and HCC

Document Type : Research Articles

Authors

Department of Internal Medicine, National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt.

Abstract

One possible hypothesis for pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma is deregulated expressed adipokines
(adipose tissue cytokines). Chronic inflammation in the cirrhotic liver adipose tissue is associated with a modification
in adipokine secretion. Changes in serum levels of adiponectin are known to be associated with the development of
insulin resistance. Increased insulin resistance is a pathophysiological feature of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
(NAFLD), one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease. In addition, it was suggested that liver cancer
development is probably connected with insulin resistance. The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of
serum Adiponectin level and insulin resistance in patients with chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.
Patient and Methods: 100 patients were enrolled in this cross sectional study and divided as following: Group I: 52
HCV patients with chronic liver disease (CLD).Group II: 48 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For all
subjects, Serum Adiponectin and Insulin Resistance parameters (Fasting serum Insulin, Fasting serum Glucose, HOMA
IR) were measured. Results: Serum Adiponectin was significantly lower in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
(p=0.000 ) and it is inversely correlated to tumor size and the number (p= 0.0001).Meanwhile, Insulin Resistance
parameters (Fasting s. Insulin, Fasting s. Glucose, HOMA IR) were significantly higher in HCC patients than CLD
patients (p= 0.0001). Conclusion: Insulin Resistance is significantly associated with the development of HCC. Serum
level of Adiponectin may guard against HCC development among patients with chronic liver disease.

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