Serum Betatrophin Levels: A Marker of Glucose Regulation in Cirrhotic Patients | ||||
| The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine | ||||
| Article 149, Volume 100, Issue 1, July 2025, Page 3586-3591 PDF (570.66 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejhm.2025.446894 | ||||
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| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Cirrhosis of the liver increases the risk of developing insulin resistance. The body can counteract insulin resistance for prolonged periods by enhancing the secretory ability of pancreatic beta cells, in addition to promoting beta cell mass. Betatrophin is a liver-derived protein that is released during insulin resistance, and its expression coincides with augmented pancreatic beta-cell proliferation and improved glucose tolerance. Objective: The present research aimed to examine serum betatrophin level in cirrhotic patients and its association with glucose homeostasis. Subjects and methods: A case-control study that was conducted at the Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University Hospitals. Eighty-eight subjects were enrolled: 66 cirrhotic patients (case group) and 22 healthy controls. Diagnosis of cirrhosis was based on clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic criteria. Patients were stratified by Child–Turcotte–Pugh (CTP) scores. All participants underwent laboratory assessments, including serum insulin, fasting blood glucose, and betatrophin levels. Insulin resistance was evaluated using the HOMA-IR index. Results: Cirrhotic patients had significantly elevated serum betatrophin levels (410.83 ± 248.81 ng/L) compared to controls (111.44 ± 15.74 ng/L; p < /em> < 0.0001). A strong positive correlation was found between betatrophin levels and CTP scores (r = 0.983, p < /em> < 0.001), and a moderate correlation with HOMA-IR (r = 0.392, p < /em> = 0.001), indicating an association with both cirrhosis severity and insulin resistance. Conclusion: Individuals suffering from liver cirrhosis exhibit higher levels of serum betatrophin that could potentially serve as a biomarker for disease severity and insulin resistance in these patients. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Cirrhosis; Insulin resistance; Betatrophin | ||||
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