Adiponectin isoforms in elderly patients with or without coronary artery disease.
OBJECTIVE
To study the distribution of adiponectin isoforms in a group of very old patients.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Geriatric ambulatory clinic of the Department of Medicine at Policlinico "Tor Vergata."


METHODS
One hundred eight elderly adults (mean age 85.0+/-3.2) with or without a history of a previous myocardial infarction as proof of established coronary artery disease (CAD) at least 3 months before entry into the study. Accordingly, subjects were divided into CAD positive (CAD+, n=50) and CAD negative (CAD-, n=58).


METHODS
Assessment of adiponectin isoforms along with metabolic, lipid, and inflammatory profiles.


RESULTS
CAD+ subjects had significantly higher levels of total adiponectin (Tot-Ad) and low-molecular-weight adiponectin (LMW-Ad) than CAD- subjects (P=.008 for both). LMW-Ad and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were positively correlated, even after adjustment for waist circumference, sex, glomerular filtration rate, and presence of diabetes mellitus (correlation coefficient (r)=0.25, P=.05). This association was not confirmed when CAD+ subjects were analyzed alone. A positive association was found in CAD+ subjects between brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), high-molecular-weight adiponectin (HMW-Ad), and Tot-Ad (r=0.798 and r=0.795, P<.001 for all) but not LMW-Ad.


CONCLUSIONS
Distribution of adiponectin isoforms differed in populations of elderly subjects according to the presence of coronary atherosclerosis. The data support the hypothesis for a protective role of LMW-Ad during aging, although additional studies are needed to definitively clarify whether LMW-Ad plays a protective role in older people with a history of CAD.
Rizza
Stefano
S
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Gigli
Fabrizio
F
Galli
Angelica
A
Micchelini
Barbara
B
Lauro
Davide
D
Lauro
Renato
R
Federici
Massimo
M
D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000369:Aged, 80 and over / Q000502:physiology*; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000097:blood; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology
D052242:Adiponectin; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; D002097:C-Reactive Protein