Abstract: Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the changes of serum fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21) and adiponectin (APN) in patients with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Methods 41 patients with NASH and 41 healthy persons were recruited in our hospital between July 2018 and August 2019. The fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FINS) and homeostasis model insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were obtained and serum FGF21 and APN levels were detected. Results The FBG level in patients with NASH was (8.7±1.6) mmol/L,significantly higher than in healthy persons, serum level of FINS was (30.9±9.8) μIU/mL, significantly higher than , the HOMA-IR was (1.9±1.1), significantly lower than that in healthy persons , serum FGF21 level in patients with NASH was (279.7±106.4) pg/mL, significantly higher than in healthy persons and serum APN level was (2.9±0.8) μg/mL, significantly lower than in healthy persons; serum FGF21 level in 10 patients with severe NASH was (285.7±116.4) pg/mL, significantly higher than in 16 patients with moderate NASH or in 15 patients with mild NASH, serum APN level in patients with severe NASH was (2.1±0.5) μg/mL, significantly lower than in patients with moderate or in patients with mild NASH, the FBG in patients in severe group was (9.9±2.6) pg/mL, significantly higher in moderate or in mild NASH, serum FINS level in patients in severe group was (35.9±8.8) pg/mL, significantly higher than in moderate or in mild NASH, and the HOMA in patients in the severe group was (1.5±1.0), significantly lower than in moderate group or in patients with mild NASH; serum FGF21 level in 17 NASH patients with high blood pressure, diabetes or/and hyperlipoidemia was (315.7±99.2) pg/mL, significantly higher than , serum APN level was (2.6±0.7) μg/mL , significantly lower than and the HOMA-IR was (1.6±0.9) ), significantly lower than in 24 patients without. Conclusion Serum FGF21 level is highly increased in NASH patients with hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipoidemia, and serum APN level and insulin resistance decrease in patients with NASH. The detection of serum FGF21 and APN might help evaluate disease severity in patients with NASH in clinical practice.

Key words: Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, Fibroblast growth factor 21, Adiponectin, Insulin resistance, Homeostasis model insulin resistance index