Chronic Hepatitis C, Adipokines, Visfatin, Chemerin and Omnetin1, Liver, HOMA-IR

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) continues to be a major disease burden on the world, especially in Egypt, which may progress to cirrhosis. Adipokines are implicated in regulation of the inflammatory response, angiogenesis and fibrogenesis. Some adipokines have a protective effect while others have negative effect in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Aim of the study: We aimed to study the new adipokines (visfatin, chemerin and omnetin1) in CHC patients to find out its relation to the biochemical liver functions tests and liver histopathology in non-obese chronic hepatitis C patients Patients and methods: This study included 70 patients with CHC and 20 healthy individuals as a control group. Liver function tests, serum visfatin, chemerin and omentin1 levels were measured. Percutaneous liver biopsy was performed in CHC patients. Results: The three adipokines levels were significantly increased in CHC patients comparing to control group (P<0.001). Serum visfatin and chemerin levels were negatively correlated with necro-inflammatory activity grade and fibrosis stage (P= 0.032,0.043, 0.029,0.036) respectively and not correlated with HOMA-IR (P= 0.236, 0.225), while serum omentin1 was not correlated with necro-inflammatory activity grade and fibrosis stage (P=0.230,0.312)but negatively correlated with HOMA-IR (P=0.031). Conclusion: The three adipokines levels were significantly elevated in CHC patients indicating their possible involvement in the pathogenesis of the disease and its metabolic complications. Serum visfatin and chemerin concentration may serve as an additional tool in determining more advanced grades of necro-inflammatory activity grade and fibrosis stage. While serum omentin-1 can predict the severity of insulin resistance.