Serum adiponectin levels in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome are independent of anthropometrical parameters and do not change with GH treatment.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity and growth hormone (GH) deficiency are common in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) and these patients are at risk of metabolic diseases in adult life and of reduced life span. Low adiponectin values are associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. We therefore found it of interest to measure adiponectin levels in PWS.


METHODS
17 adults, nine men and eight women, 17 to 32 years of age, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 35+/-3.2 kg/m2 participated. All had clinical PWS. They were randomized to treatment with placebo or GH (Genotropin) for six months, and subsequently all received GH for 12 months. At baseline, serum total adiponectin levels in the PWS patients were compared with 25 lean and 34 obese controls. Body composition and various metabolic parameters, including adiponectin, were studied every six months in the PWS group.


RESULTS
Serum adiponectin levels in PWS subjects were significantly lower (P<0.001) compared with lean and significantly higher (P<0.001) compared with obese controls. In PWS patients, no correlation was found between adiponectin and anthropometrical parameters or measures of insulin sensitivity (e.g. fasting insulin and insulin sensitivity as estimated by the homeostasis model assessment), or between adiponectin and IGF binding protein-1 or IGF-I. Adiponectin did not change during GH intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study of adults with PWS serum total adiponectin levels were higher than in controls with simple obesity and were independent of anthropometrical parameters. In accordance with this the metabolic syndrome is not necessarily present in all PWS patients. Correction of GH deficiency had no effect on serum adiponectin levels.
Department of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. charlotte.hoybye@kus.se
Charlotte
C
Hoybye
Jens M
JM
Bruun
Bjorn
B
Richelsen
Allan
A
Flyvbjerg
Jan
J
Frystyk
D052242:Adiponectin; D000328:Adult; D001823:Body Composition; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D011218:Prader-Willi Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*
D052242:Adiponectin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D019382:Human Growth Hormone