Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and adiponectin level in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

AIMS: To assess insulin resistance and adiponectin profile in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC), according to the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome (MS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty-two patients with histologically proven CHC, genotype I were prospectively studied. Parameters of MS according to the IDF criteria were evaluated. Insulin resistance was established by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR]. An index > or = 2.0 was designated as IR and > or = 4 as prediabetic state. Serum adiponectin levels were measured by ELISA: RESULTS: MS was found in 61.48% of cases. HOMA-IR was significantly higher in patients with CHC and MS vs those without MS (7.88 +/- 1.11 vs 4.29 +/- 0.5, p=0.023]. Adiponectin levels had an inverse behaviour (9,946.1 +/- 5,811 ng/ml vs 13,215.5 +/- 815.5 ng/ml, p< 0.001]. By multiple linear regression analysis the independent predictors associated with HOMA-IR > or = 4 in patients with CHC and MS were visceral obesity, adiponectin levels, activity and degree of steatosis. Only visceral obesity and HOMA-IR were independently associated with adiponectin. A significant negative correlation was established between adiponectin and insulin (r = -0.169, p=0.003] and between adiponectin and HOMA-IR (r = -0.188, p=0.02]. CONCLUSIONS: CHC with MS was associated with a higher insulin resistance and lower adiponectin level. Adiponectin level and insulin resistance were significantly correlated.