Serum concentrations of fetuin B in lipodystrophic patients

Abstract Objective FetuinB is an adipokine/hepatokine which is significantly elevated in insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes mellitus and hepatic steatosis. Regulation of fetuinB in patients with lipodystrophy(LD) – a disease group which is characterized by subcutaneous adipose tissueloss, hypertriglyceridemia, hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance, and dysregulation of several adipokines– has not been elucidated so far. Material and methods Serum fetuinB levels were determined in 37 patients with LD, as well as in a control cohort consisting of 37 non-LD participants matched for age, gender, and body mass index. Furthermore, fetuinB was correlated with parameters of lipid metabolism, glucose control, renal function, and inflammation. Results Median fetuinB serum levels were not significantly different between patients with LD (2980.7 µg/l; interquartile range: 841.7 µg/l) and non-LD controls (2647.3 µg/l; interquartile range: 923.6 µg/l; p = .105). FetuinB was associated with age, body mass index, markers of renal function, and C reactive protein (CRP) in univariate correlation analyses. The associations with age and creatinine remained significant in multiple linear regression analysis. Conclusions FetuinB serum concentrations are not significantly different between patients with LD and non-LD controls. FetuinB does not seem to be a major pathogenetic factor in LD.