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

Table 6 Comparison of adipokines and metabolic markers in primary biliary cholangitis patients stratified by biochemical response, mean ± SD/median (interquartile range)

	PBC/ no CBR	PBC/CBR	P value
Number of patients, n (%)	35 (43.80)	45 (56.30)
Age (years)	63.00 ± 8.70	64.70 ± 11.10	0.5451
BMI	27.10 ± 5.70	26.70 ± 4.90	0.7511
Waist circumference (cm)	88.90 ± 13.90	90.60 ± 12.50	0.6501
AST (% of ULN)	83.33 (IQR 158.33)	78.33 (IQR 51.57)	0.2733
ALT (% of ULN)	66.67 (IQR 40.00)	71.67 (IQR 58.34)	0.4703
GGT (% of ULN)	126.98 (IQR 223.81)	109.52 (IQR 104.77)	0.0623
ALP (% of ULN)	117.50 (IQR 75.00)	78.00 (IQR 31.30)	< 0.0013
Bil-T (μmol/L)	11.30 (IQR 16.00)	12.2 (IQR 5.5)	0.3423
Bil-C (μmol/L)	2.66 (IQR 3.35)	2.36 (IQR 1.42)	0.2163
Glucose (mmol/L)	5.30 (IQR 0.90)	5.30 (IQR 1.30)	0.8123
C-peptide (ng/mL)	1.84 (IQR 1.63)	1.90 (IQR 1.12)	0.7343
HOMA-IR	5.13 (IQR 3.63)	4.75 (IQR 1.85)	0.0863
TC (mmol/L)	5.51 ± 1.18	5.15 ± 1.24	0.2071
HDL-C (mmol/L)	1.74 ± 0.44	1.62 ± 0.42	0.3081
LDL-C (mmol/L)	3.48 (IQR 1.01)	3.33 (IQR 1.28)	0.1302
Ferritin (mg/L)	60.15 (IQR 54.30)	83.40 (IQR 122.5)	0.3042
TG (mmol/L)	1.05 (IQR 0.51)	1.09 (IQR 0.53)	0.8543
Platelets (× 109/L)	260 (IQR 151)	230 (IQR 81)	0.9963
Adiponectin (pg/mL)	1998.77 (IQR 2537.98)	1769.42 (IQR 2447.19)	0.6942
Leptin (ng/mL)	1.95 ± 2.53	1.95 ± 3.46	0.9022
CAP (dB/m)	218.00 (IQR 62)	247.00 (IQR 82)	0.2342
Liver stiffness (TE, kPa)	7.20 (IQR 8.60)	6.20 (IQR 3.85)	0.0222
L/A ratio	0.68 (IQR 1.32)	0.47 (IQR 1,77)	0.6572

¹Independent T-test.

²Independent T-test after log-transformed.

³Mann-Whitney U test.

No significant differences in adipokines were observed between responders and non-responders, except for alkaline phosphatase levels. Values are presented as raw (untransformed) data, statistical tests were performed on log-transformed values where indicated. PBC: Primary biliary cholangitis; CBR: Complete biochemical response; 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.