Adiponectin as a potential biomarker for the metabolic syndrome in Chinese patients taking clozapine for schizophrenia.
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.
Bai
Ya Mei
YM
Department of Psychiatry, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taiwan. ymbi@mail2000.com.tw
Chen
Jen-Yeu
JY
Yang
Wei-Shiung
WS
Chi
Yu-Chiao
YC
Liou
Ying-Jay
YJ
Lin
Chao-Cheng
CC
Wang
Ying-Chieh
YC
Lin
Chih-Yuan
CY
Su
Tung-Pine
TP
Chou
Pesus
P
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
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D003024:Clozapine