Adipokine profiles reflect metabolic dysfunction but not fibrosis in patients with primary biliary cholangitis

Table 4 Comparison of metabolic and adipokine profiles in primary biliary cholangitis patients with and without metabolic syndrome, mean ± SD/median (interquartile range)

	PBC/no MetS	PBC/MetS	P value
Number of patients, n (%)	48 (59.30)	33 (40.70)
Age (years)	60.60 ± 9.70	68.90 ± 8.80	0.0011
BMI	25.40 ± 4.80	28.90 ± 5.20	0.0021
Waist circumference (cm)	84.90 ± 11.30	97.20 ± 12.20	< 0.0011
AST (% of ULN)	81.67 (IQR 26.67)	78.33 (IQR 70.54)	0.4403
ALT (% of ULN)	71.67 (IQR 39.58)	70.00 (IQR 47.50)	0.7403
GGT (% of ULN)	112.70 (IQR 203.17)	114.29 (IQR 143.65)	0.6893
ALP (% of ULN)	94.50 (IQR 55.00)	89.50 (IQR 38.80)	0.2513
Bil-T (μmol/L)	11.80 (IQR 5.80)	12.10 (IQR 8.00)	0.9303
Bil-C (μmol/L)	2.27 (IQR 1.43)	2.36 (IQR 2.27)	0.9183
Glucose (mmol/L)	5.10 (IQR 0.10)	6.00 (IQR 1.70)	< 0.0013
C-peptide (ng/mL)	1.45 (IQR 0.81)	2.31 (IQR 1.30)	< 0.0013
HOMA-IR	4.27 (IQR 1.65)	5.79 (IQR 3.38)	0.0013
TC (mmol/L)	5.62 ± 1.06	4.84 ± 1.31	0.0061
HDL-C (mmol/L)	1.87 ± 0.35	1.39 ± 0.38	< 0.0011
LDL-C (mmol/L)	3.49 (IQR 0.97)	2.94 (IQR 1.35)	0.0292
Ferritin (mg/L)	67.40 (IQR 83.00)	73.85 (IQR 78.20)	0.2702
TG (mmol/L)	0.98 (IQR 0.38)	1.34 (IQR 0.98)	< 0.0013
Platelets (× 109/L)	244 (IQR 90.50)	226 (IQR 127.5)	0.1693
Adiponectin (pg/mL)	2086.10 (IQR 2260.08)	1208.41 (IQR 3127.60)	0.0022
Leptin (ng/mL)	0.79 (IQR 1.11)	1.51 (IQR 2.43)	0.0022
CAP (dB/m)	213 (IQR 62)	254 (IQR 98)	0.0012
Liver stiffness (TE, kPa)	6.70 (IQR 3.80)	7.2 (IQR 8.03)	0.0272
L/A ratio	0.41 (IQR 0.59)	1.28 (IQR 2.36)	0.0092

¹Independent T-test.

²Independent T-test after log-transformed.

³Mann-Whitney U test.

Patients with metabolic syndrome showed significantly higher insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance), lower adiponectin levels, and increased leptin-to-adiponectin ratio. Values are presented as raw (untransformed) data, statistical tests were performed on log-transformed values where indicated. PBC: Primary biliary cholangitis; MetS: Metabolic syndrome; BMI: Body mass index; AST: Aspartate aminotransferase; ULN: Upper limit of normal; ALT: Alanine aminotransferase; GGT: Gamma-glutamyl transferase; ALP: Alkaline phosphatase; Bil-T: Total bilirubin; Bil-C: Conjugated bilirubin; HOMA-IR: Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; TC: Total cholesterol; HDL-C: High-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C: Low density lipoprotein-cholesterol; TG: Triglycerides; CAP: Controlled attenuation parameter; TE: Transient elastography; L/A ratio: Leptin-to-adiponectin ratio; IQR: Interquartile range.