title: Low serum adiponectin is independently associated with both the metabolic syndrome and angiographically determined coronary atherosclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed at investigating serum adiponectin in patients with the metabolic syndrome (MetS), in patients with angiographically diagnosed coronary artery disease (CAD), and in patients who had both, the MetS and CAD.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 687 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of CAD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From our patients, 178 had neither the MetS (Adult Treatment Panel III definition) nor significant CAD (MetS-/CAD-), 91 had the MetS, but not significant CAD (MetS+/CAD-), 251 did not have the MetS but had significant CAD (MetS-/CAD+), and 167 had both, the MetS and significant CAD (MetS+/CAD+). Serum adiponectin was highest (12.1+/-8.3 microg/ml) in MetS-/CAD- subjects. It was significantly lower in MetS+/CAD- (9.5+/-7.3 microg/ml; p=0.001) and in MetS-/CAD+ patients (9.2+/-5.3 microg/ml; p<0.001) and lowest in MetS+/CAD+ patients (6.7+/-3.8 microg/ml) in whom it was significantly lower than in MetS-/CAD-, MetS+/CAD-, and MetS-/CAD+ patients (p<0.001 for all comparisons). In analysis of covariance the MetS and significant CAD proved associated with serum adiponectin in a mutually independent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low serum adiponectin is independently associated with both the MetS and coronary atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Vorarlberg Institute for Vascular Investigation and Treatment (VIVIT), Carinagasse 47, A-6800 Feldkirch, Austria.
authors.forename: Christoph H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Saely
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.forename: Guenter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hoefle
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rein
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muendlein
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Marte
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aczel
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Drexel
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin