Detection of serum leptin in pa tients with chronic hepatitis B and liver cirrhosis

Objective To inves ti gate the relationship between serum leptin levels and the liver function.Methods Serum leptin levels were detected by ELISA in79patients with chronic hepatitis B,77with liver cirrhosis and76control subjects,and their results were compared.R esults Compared with controls,serum leptin levels were significantly de-creased in patients with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis.Moreover,the levels of serum leptin were much higher in female than those in male subjects in all the3groups .Conclusions Serum leptin levels in the patients with chronic hepatitis B or liv er cirrhosis are lower than those in the controls regardless their liver functio n impairment degree,which is associated with liver function impairment originate d from hepatitis virus infection.