RESUMEN

Objective To investigate the level of serum retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and related factors in chronic hepatitis C (CHC). Methods Fifty-six patients with CHC (CHC group) and 35 healthy volunteers (control group) were selected. Serum RBP4 level was measured by ELISA method.Fasting blood glucose ( FBG ), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol ( TC ), alanine aminotransferase (ALT),γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (γ-GT) were measured, HCV-RNA level was tested by qualitative polymerase chain reaction(q-PCR). Results There were no significant difference in FBG, TC,TG, γ-GT between two groups (P ＞ 0.05 ). Serum RBP4 level in CHC group [(33.38 ± 6.43 ) mg/L] was higher than that in control group [(26.11 ± 3.35) mg/L](P＜ 0.01),the CHC patients with ALT normal (26 cases) had significantly higher RBP4 level [( 38.96 ± 4.09) mg/L] compared with ALT abnormal [30 cases, ( 28.53 ± 3.43 ) mg/L](P ＜ 0.01 ). ALT level was negative with RBP4 in CHC group (r = -0.6368, P ＜ 0.05 ). Conclusion Serum RBP4 level is significantly associated with CHC and negatively correlated with ALT level,but not associated with FBG, TC,TG, γ-GT and HCV-RNA.