title: Adiponectin as a potential biomarker for the metabolic syndrome in Chinese patients taking clozapine for schizophrenia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As the metabolic syndrome is an important side effect of some antipsychotics, use of a biomarker will enable clinicians to identify metabolic changes more effectively than anthropometry and biochemistry. Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, serves as a central regulatory protein in many of the physiologic pathways controlling lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. The aim of this study is to determine the possible relationship between adiponectin and the metabolic syndrome among Chinese patients taking clozapine for schizophrenia.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study sample consisted of 188 hospitalized Chinese patients with schizophrenia (DSM-IV criteria) who had been receiving clozapine for at least 3 months. Cross-sectional anthropometric measurements, biochemical analysis, and serum adiponectin levels were assessed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Retrospective chart reviews were conducted to obtain demographic data, age at which clozapine treatment was initiated, and weight change after the initiation of clozapine treatment. The study was conducted from March to September of 2005.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 28.4%. Adiponectin levels were negatively associated with weight change after the initiation of clozapine treatment, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, serum triglycerides, and insulin and were positively associated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age (OR = 1.083, p = .009), BMI (OR = 1.423, p < .001), and serum adiponectin (OR = 0.847, p = .01) each correlated significantly with the presence of the metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Independent of age and BMI, hypoadiponectinemia is a potential biomarker of the metabolic syndrome in patients taking clozapine for schizophrenia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. ymbi@mail2000.com.tw
authors.forename: Ya Mei
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Jen-Yeu
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Shiung
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yu-Chiao
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Ying-Jay
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Chao-Cheng
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Ying-Chieh
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chih-Yuan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Tung-Pine
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China; D003024:Clozapine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000208:ethnology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D003024:Clozapine