Association of Adipose-derived Hormones with Atherosclerosis Indices in Metabolic Syndrome Patients

Aim: The study was aimed to determine the association of adipose derived hormones, adiponectin, leptin, and adiponectin/leptin (A/L) ratio with presence and degree of atherosclerosis in metabolic syndrome patients.

Study Design: Open label, pilot, case-control study.

Place and Duration of Study: Sadbhavna Medical and Heart Institute, Patiala and, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Drug Research, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab, (INDIA), between January 2013 and December 2013.

Methodology: Metabolic syndrome patients (n=55) with age ≥ 18 years, undergoing angiography for diagnosis and/or interventional treatment of atherosclerosis, and 25 matched control subjects were recruited. Evaluation of traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors (adipose-derived hormones) and their association with angiographic-derived presence and degree of atherosclerosis indices (number of blocked vessels, severity index, and extent index) was carried out. Continuous variables were expressed as mean ± standard error mean and discrete variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. One way ANOVA was used to assess the difference b/w the groups characterized according to the number of vessels blocked. For each of the indices, the significant univariate predictors were entered into a forward stepwise multivariate regression model (model 1 and model 2) to determine the independent predictors. Statistical significance was accepted at P≤. 05.

Results: The independent predictors of atherosclerosis for number of blocked vessels were low serum adiponectin and high total cholesterol level. For extent and severity index, low adiponectin level was the only significant and independent predictor. Leptin and A/L ratio could not prove as significant predictors (P≥. 05).

Conclusion: Total cholesterol, adiponectin, leptin and A/L ratio might play a vital pathogenic role not only in the occurrence, but also in the severity, extent, number of vessels blocked complexity in metabolic syndrome patients.