Increased serum FGF21 levels in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

• Published in: European journal of clinical investigation 2010-10, Vol.40 (10), p.887-892
• Main Authors: Yilmaz, Yusuf, Eren, Fatih, Yonal, Oya, Kurt, Ramazan, Aktas, Bilge, Celikel, Cigdem Ataizi, Ozdogan, Osman, Imeryuz, Nese, Kalayci, Cem, Avsar, Erol
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Case-Control Studies; Fatty Liver - blood; Fatty Liver - metabolism; Fatty Liver - physiopathology; Female; Fibroblast growth factor 21; Fibroblast Growth Factors - metabolism; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; General aspects; Humans; Liver. Biliary tract. Portal circulation. Exocrine pancreas; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; nonalcoholic fatty liver disease; Other diseases. Semiology; steatosis; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0014-2972; 1365-2362
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2362.2010.02338.x

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (10): 887–892 Background  The fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) hormonal pathway is a metabolic signalling cascade and has been recently identified as the master hormonal regulator of glucose, lipids and overall energy balance. In this observational, case–control study, we assayed serum levels of FGF21 in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a hepatic manifestation of the metabolic syndrome, and examined their association with clinical, biochemical and histological phenotypes. Materials and methods  Serum levels of FGF21 were assayed by ELISA in 82 patients with biopsy‐proven NAFLD and 77 controls. We analysed associations between FGF21 and the characteristics of patients with NAFLD by multiple linear regression analysis. Results  Levels of FGF21 were significantly higher in patients with NAFLD (median 200 pg mL−1; interquartile range: 87–410 pg mL−1) than in healthy controls (median 93 pg mL−1; interquartile range: 70–180 pg mL−1, Mann–Whitney U‐test, P