Visfatin levels in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

PURPOSE: Recently, role of adipokin in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been suggested. Among adipokins, role of leptin and adiponectin is rather well known; however, there are only a few data concerning visfatin.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

NAFLD is confirmed in 30 patients by ultrasonography. As a control group, patients without fatty liver or other liver diseases were included. Viral hepatitis, metabolic liver diseases, and autoimmune hepatitis and consumption of alcohol were excluded in all patients. Fasting serum level of visfatin was determined by ELISA method.

RESULTS

Serum visfatin concentration in the NAFLD group (14.7 ± 8.1 ng/ml) was significantly higher than in controls (9.4 ± 1.6 ng/ml) (P < 0.001). There were no correlations between visfatin and anthropometric parameters, transaminases, lipids, and homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

CONCLUSION

Serum visfatin concentration increases in patients with NAFLD.