Adiponectin as a biomarker in liver cirrhosis—A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Introduction Adiponectin, a key adipokine, shows promise as a non‐invasive biomarker for liver cirrhosis by reflecting inflammation and metabolic changes, but conflicting findings highlight the need for a systematic review and meta‐analysis to clarify its role. Our study aimed to evaluate adiponectin levels across various stages of liver cirrhosis, compare them with other chronic liver diseases (CLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and assess its potential as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Methods Our systematic search was conducted on September 2023 using PubMed, EMBASE and Scopus, searching for observational studies evaluating serum and plasma adiponectin levels in liver cirrhosis. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and study quality was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale. To evaluate the overall effect size, we utilized a random‐effects model along with a mean difference (MD) analysis. The principal summary outcome was the MD in adiponectin levels. Results We included 16 articles involving 2617 subjects in our qualitative and quantitative synthesis. We found significantly higher adiponectin levels in liver cirrhosis patients (8.181 [95% CI 3.676, 12.686]), especially in Child‐Pugh B individuals (13.294 [95% CI 4.955, 21.634]), compared to controls. Child‐Pugh A patients did not show significant differences compared to controls. In addition, adiponectin levels were significantly elevated in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients compared to controls (8.669 [95% CI .291, 17.047]), as well as in liver cirrhosis compared to other CLD patients (4.805 [95% CI 1.247, 8.363]), including non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) (8.532 [95% CI 3.422, 13.641]), but not viral hepatitis. No significant MD was observed between liver cirrhosis and HCC patients. Conclusion Adiponectin levels are significantly elevated in liver cirrhosis, especially in advanced stages, potentially serving as a biomarker for advanced cirrhosis. Adiponectin also differentiates cirrhosis from other CLD, including NAFLD. However, its role in distinguishing cirrhosis from viral hepatitis and HCC is limited.