Objective: To explore the association between the levels of plasma adiponectin and coronary artery lesion complexity in patients undergoing coronary angiography.
Methods: We measured the plasma concentrations of adiponectin in 105 candidates [28 healthy controls and 77 patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD)]. The complexity of coronary artery lesion was evaluated by the numbers of vessel disease and Gensini score.
Results: Plasma concentrations of adiponectin in healthy group were significantly higher than those in CAD patients. Among patients with CAD, those with multiple vessel lesions had significantly lower adiponectin levels than those with a single vessel lesion. Plasma concentrations of adiponectin in Gensini score > or = 30 group were significantly lower than those in <30 group and control group(P<0.05). Patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) had lower adiponectin levels than those without ACS [(0.731+/-0.361) mg/L vs. (1.097+/-0.617) mg/L,P=0.03]. Logistic analysis indicated that the lower level of adiponectin was independent risk factor of coronary stenosis (OR 0.214, 95% CI 0.071-0.646, P=0.006) and unstable plaque (OR 0.151, 95% CI 0.044-0.515, P= 0.003). Adiponectin concentrations were correlated positively with high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) and negatively with C-reactive protein and triglyceride(TG).
Conclusion: The decreased plasma adiponectin concentration might be associated with the coronary artery lesion and be used as an independent predictor of the occurrence and severity of coronary atherosclerosis and the stability of plaque.