title: Lower ratio of high-molecular-weight adiponectin level to total may be associated with coronary high-risk plaque.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin is believed to protect against atherosclerosis, the association between HMW adiponectin and the composition of coronary plaques is unknown. We evaluated whether the HMW to total adiponectin ratio was associated with the presence of coronary plaque and its composition using multi-slice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCTCA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum total and HMW adiponectin levels were measured in 53 consecutive patients (age, 71) with >50% coronary artery stenosis detected by MSCTCA. A low-attenuation coronary plaque was defined as a plaque with a mean CT density <50 Hounsfield units. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the predictors of the presence of low-attenuation coronary plaques, which is thought to be high risk, on CT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decreased serum levels of total as well as HMW adiponectin were significantly associated with the presence of at least one calcified or non-calcified coronary artery plaque (total adiponectin level: odds ratio 0.76, 95% CI 0.58-0.99, P = 0.048; HMW adiponectin level: odds ratio 0.65, 95% CI 0.42-0.99, P = 0.047). A low ratio of HMW to total adiponectin was significantly associated with the presence of low-attenuation coronary plaques (4.55, 1.94-21.90, P = 0.049). However, neither the total adiponectin nor the HMW adiponectin level was associated with the presence of low-attenuation coronary plaques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lower total or HMW adiponectin levels are associated with the presence of calcified and non-calcified coronary plaques, whereas a lower ratio of HMW to total adiponectin associated with the presence of low-attenuation coronary plaques (thought to be high risk). Measurement of total and HMW adiponectin levels and the HMW to total adiponectin ratio may be useful for risk stratification of coronary artery plaques.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Toyama 1-21-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8655, Japan.
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moroi
authors.forename: Shamima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akter
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: Taeko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kunimasa
authors.forename: Hirofumi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masai
authors.forename: Tatsuhiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Furuhashi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: Eiichi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Koda
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sugi
authors.forename: Subrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jesmin
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin