title: Increased serum visfatin as a risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The present study aimed to investigate the possible associations between serum levels of visfatin, an adipokine, and atherosclerosis in patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 95 participants were recruited for this study. Group A comprised 35 individuals with no history of cerebrovascular disease (control group) and Group B comprised 60 patients with ischaemic cerebrovascular disease. Group B was further categorised into two subgroups based on the ultrasonographic findings of the common carotid artery intima‑media thickness (CCA‑IMT) - Group B1 consisted of 21 patients with no atherosclerosis (i.e. CCA‑IMT ≤ 0.9 mm) and Group B2 consisted of 39 patients with atherosclerosis (i.e. CCA‑IMT > 0.9 mm). The body mass index, fasting blood total cholesterol, triglycerides, high‑density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‑density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose levels of each patient were measured. Serum visfatin levels were determined using enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assays. Visfatin levels were compared between groups, and stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for atherosclerosis, including visfatin levels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum visfatin level of the patients in Group B was higher than that in Group A (75.5 ± 77.80 ng/mL vs. 8.6 ± 4.69 ng/mL; p < 0.05) and the level was higher in patients from Group B2 than those from Group B1 (89.0 ± 80.68 ng/mL vs. 50.4 ± 72.44 ng/mL; p < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis showed that CCA‑IMT values were not significantly associated with visfatin levels. However, logistic regression analysis showed that serum visfatin was an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis (odds ratio 37.80; p = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum visfatin may be an independent risk factor for cerebral infarction, as high serum visfatin levels are positively associated with the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of ischaemic cerebrovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical College, Jining, Shandong Province, China. qingxiakong56@126.com.
authors.forename: Qingxia
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Ruqing
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Cu
authors.forename: Zhuoxiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Junli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D054392:Adipokines / Q000378:metabolism; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D054392:Adipokines; D054409:Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase
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