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PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-4-23
pubmed:abstractText
Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone involved in the homeostasis of body composition. An imbalance in leptin regulation has been observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. We aimed to assess serum and ascitic leptin levels in a group of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and to evaluate the relationship of these levels with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha). We assessed both serum and ascitic fluid leptin levels in a series of 16 consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis. We calculated the body mass index (BMI) and assessed body fat (BF) of all patients by means of bioelectric impedence analysis. Leptin levels were analyzed in relationship to biochemical indexes, TNF-alpha levels, and body composition. None of the patients had spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Both serum and ascites leptin levels were correlated with BMI and BF. On average, ascitic fluid leptin levels (13.1 +/- 10.9 ng/ml) were twice as high as serum levels (7.0 +/- 6.4 ng/ml), and the ascitic fluid/serum ratio of leptin was > 1 in all patients. Serum and ascites leptin levels were positively correlated (rS = 0.675, P = 0.009), while no correlation was observed between leptin and TNF-alpha levels, both in serum and in ascites. Serum and ascites TNF-alpha were not correlated. The ascitic fluid leptin levels of cirrhotic patients with sterile ascites are on average two times higher than circulating levels of this hormone. Noteworthily, they correlate significantly with body composition. These findings seem to suggest that in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis, intraabdominal production of leptin may contribute to the metabolic picture.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
0163-2116
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
49
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
275-80
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
High ascitic fluid leptin levels in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and sterile ascites: relationship with TNF-alpha levels.
pubmed:affiliation
Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article