Serum adiponectin and glucose in patients with hepatitis B virus infection

Adiponectin is considered a modulator of glucose metabolism. Hypoadiponectinemia was reported to be associated with glucose metabolism and metabolic syndrome, and had been found in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus infections. However, little is known about the role of adiponectin in patients with HBV infection. Fifty-five patients with HBV infection and 52 healthy individuals were included in this study. We found that serum adiponectin was significantly lower in patients with HBV infection. We also found that HBV-infected patients with hemoglobin A1C ≥6.5% had a lower adiponectin level than those with hemoglobin A1C <6.5%. In conclusion, hypoadiponectinemia occurs in patients with HBV infection, and adiponectin may play a role in the pathogenesis of glucose metabolism in these patients.