title: Adiponectin levels are elevated in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In addition to insulin-sensitizing effects, adiponectin influences several mechanisms involved in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) pathobiology. Insulin resistance has been associated with PAH, and elevated adiponectin levels have been described in left heart failure (HF) as a response to the increased metabolic stress. No studies have been performed in right HF or PAH patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Compared to healthy controls, PAH patients have a different plasma adipocytokine profile, higher insulin resistance, and higher inflammatory systemic activation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted in PAH patients individually matched for sex, age, and body mass index. We characterized the clinical features, functional status (6-minute walking test), and hemodynamic profile of cases (n=25). We measured insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment and high-density lipoprotein/triglycerides ratio), inflammatory systemic activation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), and plasma adipocytokine profile (adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, and resistin) in cases and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PAH patients had significantly higher adiponectin levels than controls (12.4±6.9 vs 8.1±4.5 µg/mL; P<0.05) and higher high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (2.96±3.2 vs 1.08±1.1; P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in plasma levels of leptin, visfatin, and resistin between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adiponectin levels are increased in PAH patients compared to controls. Further studies are needed to study the potential role of adiponectin as a PAH biomarker.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Cardiothoracic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Cardiology Department, Hospital Santo António, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mário
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Abílio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Manuel J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ferreira-Pinto
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cabral
authors.forename: Severo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Adelino F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Leite-Moreira
authors.forename: Tiago
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Henriques-Coelho
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D065627:Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C499918:ADIPOQ protein, human; D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators