Ataseven et al2 in a study of 23 patients with cirrhosis and 22 with HCC and all co-infected with hepatitis B and D compared to 25 controls (healthy subjects), they found lower serum leptin levels in patients with cirrhosis and HCC compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05), and high levels of ghrelin in both groups. Here, LEP is linked to hepatitis B virus infection.