title: Leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin serum levels and idiopathic recurrent pericarditis: biomarkers of disease activity? A preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Idiopathic recurrent acute pericarditis (IRAP) represents the most troublesome complication of acute pericarditis and is an autoimmune process. White adipose tissue produces more than 50 adipokines that participate in inflammation and autoimmunity. This study investigated whether serum leptin, resistin, visfatin and adiponectin are increased in IRAP versus healthy controls and if their levels correlate with parameters of disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum leptin, resistin, visfatin and adiponectin levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 14 IRAP patients during recurrences (group 1), in 23 IRAP patients during symptom-free intervals (group 2) and in 18 healthy controls (group 3). Assessment parameters included demographic characteristics of patients and controls, clinical characteristics of patients and markers of inflammation. Comparisons between groups as well as reciprocal comparisons were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 showed serum leptin (p<0.008), visfatin (p<0.002), and adiponectin (p<0.04) significantly higher than group 2 and control group, whereas resistin serum levels did not significantly differ (p=0.69). Among IRAP patients, serum leptin significantly correlated with serum amyloid A (SAA) levels (rs=0.43, r2= 0.27, p<0.02). Other than this correlation, none of the considered adipokines significantly correlated with the other considered variables in univariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leptin, adiponectin and visfatin are increased in IRAP patients versus healthy controls. Our data suggest that these adipokines might be involved in IRAP pathogenesis and that a possible increased cardiovascular risk in these patients, through an early onset atherosclerosis, should be kept in mind. SAA might be a link between IRAP and increased cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: University of Siena, Siena, Italy. cantariniluca@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cantarini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brucato
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Simonini
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imazio
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cumetti
authors.forename: Rolando
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cimaz
authors.forename: Maria Romana
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bacarelli
authors.forename: Isabella
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muscari
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.forename: Orso Maria
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Lucherini
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galeazzi
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fioravanti
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D010493:Pericarditis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D052243:Resistin / Q000097:blood*; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000032:analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; D020738:Leptin; C499624:RETN protein, human; D052243:Resistin; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase; C085455:nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, human