Objective: The aim of this study was to assess serum adiponectin and leptin concentrations in patients with chronic pancreatitis of alcoholic and nonalcoholic origin.
Methods: Forty-four male patients with chronic pancreatitis of alcoholic origin and 10 patients of nonalcoholic origin as well 16 healthy subjects were examined. Fasting blood samples were collected. Serum adiponectin, leptin, and insulin concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay methods.
Results: Patients with chronic pancreatitis had lower body mass index values compared with those of control. Nonetheless, there were no differences in serum adiponectin concentration between pancreatitis patients and healthy controls. Pancreatitis patients had lower serum leptin and insulin concentrations than healthy subjects. No difference in serum leptin and insulin concentrations between patients with chronic pancreatitis of alcoholic and nonalcoholic origin was observed. The serum adiponectin/leptin concentration ratio was higher in chronic pancreatitis patients than in control subjects.
Conclusions: Chronic pancreatitis in humans (a) is associated with the decrease in serum leptin and insulin concentrations, (b) does not affect serum adiponectin concentration but increases serum adiponectin/leptin concentration ratio, and (c) alters the interrelationship between serum adiponectin and insulin concentrations. Moreover, these results suggest that changes in serum leptin and insulin concentrations are independent on the etiology of chronic pancreatitis.