Leptin has no role in determining severity of steatosis and fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C

OBJECTIVE: The presence of steatosis is a common histological finding in pa tients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). The causes of the severity of this c ondition are not yet clear, although both metabolic and viral factors suppo sedly are involved. In this study our aim was to examine the possible influ ence that leptin levels, hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA levels, and hepatitis G virus (HGV) infection have on the severity of steatosis and on the presen ce and degree of fibrosis in patients with CHC. METHODS: One hundred eighty-two CHC patients with histological findings of steatosis were chosen from among a cohort of patients referred to our cente r for staging of liver disease. Among them 48 CHC patients were accurately selected so as to rule out possible confounding factors for the presence of steatosis (diabetes mellitus, hyperlipemia, obesity, alcohol). Leptin leve ls, HCV RNA levels, and HCV genotype, and the presence of HGV RNA were asse ssed in these patients and related to histological findings. RESULTS: We found that leptin levels in CHC patients were similar to those in healthy subjects. No relationship was found between leptin levels and se verity of steatosis. HCV RNA levels, HCV genotype, and the presence of HGV infection were no different among CHC patients with various degrees of stea tosis. Leptin was not related to different degrees of fibrosis, whereas hig her viral load was the only parameter associated to higher fibrosis scores. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that the degree of steatosis in patient s with CHC does not seem to depend on serum leptin levels or on viral facto rs, at least as far as HCV viremia and genotype and HGV infection are conce rned. The severity of fibrosis does not seem to be influenced by leptin lev els, whereas HCV viral load does seem to play some role. (C) 2000 by Am. Ce ll. of Gastroenterology.