title: Association between plasma high-molecular-weight adiponectin and coronary plaque characteristics assessed by computed tomography angiography in conditions of visceral adipose accumulation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our group has previously reported that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) accumulation was associated with the extent and vulnerable characteristics of coronary plaques using coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). An investigation of the associations between these coronary lesions with plasma adiponectin and leptin was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 394 patients (220 men and 174 women) in the study were referred for CTA. Plain abdominal scanning was simultaneously performed to evaluate VAT areas. The median level of plasma high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin in patients with CTA-based obstructive coronary artery disease was significantly lower than that in patients without (men: 1.45 vs. 1.88 µg/ml, P=0.002; women: 2.49 vs. 3.44 µg/ml, P<0.001). Multivariate analyses revealed that a lower HMW adiponectin concentration was significantly associated with the presence (men: P=0.019; women: P=0.018) and involved segment numbers (men: P=0.001; women: P=0.003) of coronary plaques. Furthermore, it was significantly related to coronary plaque with all 3 vulnerable characteristics of positive remodeling, low CT density (≤38 Hounsfield units), and adjacent spotty calcium (men: P=0.019; women: P=0.016). These associations were also observed with VAT areas, but not with plasma leptin concentrations, in both genders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower plasma HMW adiponectin is associated with the presence, extent, and vulnerable characteristics of coronary plaques assessed by CTA in both genders.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima, Japan.
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kunita
authors.forename: Hideya
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kitagawa
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Hiroto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Utsunomiya
authors.forename: Toshiharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oka
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Awai
authors.forename: Yasuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kihara
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D050154:Adiposity; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007564:Japan; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin