Correlates of adiponectin in hepatitis C-infected children: The importance of body mass index

OBJECTIVES:: Adiponectin is a regulator of cytokines that, in turn, play a vital role in inflammatory and immune responses. Adiponectin is therefore likely to have a contributory role in hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We sought to characterize adiponectin levels and examine correlates in a pediatric HCV-infected cohort. METHODS:: We performed a cross-sectional study in children (5-17 years of age, n=86) in the Pediatric Study of Hepatitis C (PEDS-C) trial. Adiponectin levels were univariately correlated with patient demographics, anthropometrics, and viral and histological measures. Multivariate regression models were used to identify the unique (ie, nonconfounded) associations with adiponectin concentrations. RESULTS:: Body mass index (BMI) had the highest univariate inverse correlation with logeadiponectin (r=-0.5, P<0.0001). In multivariate analysis, BMI remained inversely correlated with logeadiponectin after accounting for age and route of HCV transmission (r=-0.38, P=0.0003). Steatosis and fibrosis were inversely related to logeadiponectin in univariate analysis, but these associations were not statistically significant after multivariate adjustments (P≥0.1827). CONCLUSIONS:: High BMI among HCV-infected children is associated with lower adiponectin levels. Practitioners should be cognizant of the possible risks of low adiponectin when managing HCV-infected children who are overweight. Further studies are indicated to determine the impact of having low adiponectin on HCV infection in youth.