title: Relation between adiponectin and brain natriuretic peptide in healthy pediatric subjects: from birth through childhood.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  New biomarkers potentially improve clinical management of cardiovascular disease, but there are gaps in understanding their role during childhood. Adiponectin regulates metabolism and exerts anti-inflammatory/anti-atherogenic effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate circulating levels of adiponectin during postnatal growth and its relationship with Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) in healthy children, a marker of cardiac function known to be increased in childhood.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma adiponectin and BNP were measured in 131 healthy children divided into: 43 newborns (0-3 days), 29 neonates (4-30 days), 25 infants (1-12 months) and 34 children (1-12 years). A group of 33 healthy adult subjects (25-60 years) was also studied. Plasma adiponectin in the 131 children resulted significantly higher compared to adult subjects (p < 0.0001). The time-course of adiponectin suggests the design of three age-based intervals: the first until 1 month of age (median 29.07 μg/mL, 11.61-47.01 μg/mL 5°-95° percentiles), the second between 1 and 12 months of age (21.66 μg/mL, 8.83-59.81 μg/mL) and the third for age up to 12 years (13.81 μg/mL, 4.10-28.57 μg/mL). Both adiponectin and BNP exhibited the same trend of a progressive decrease during growth, showing a significant relationship (Spearman's rho = 0.403, p < 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adiponectin plasma levels in a healthy pediatric population vary as a function of age. Three reference intervals for adiponectin in pediatric subjects have been indicated. The relationship between adiponectin and BNP suggests that the age-dependent profile of circulating adiponectin could also be due to BNP.
authors: Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Institute of Clinical Physiology, Laboratory of Cardiovascular Biochemistry, Pisa Research Area, Via G. Moruzzi 1, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Caselli
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cantinotti
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Del Ry
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Cabiati
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Prescimone
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Storti
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Murzi
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Giannessi
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002657:Child Development; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D020097:Natriuretic Peptide, Brain