Objective: Although plasma adiponectin levels may be a marker for the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and can help to predict future cardiovascular events in patients with CAD, the significance of changes in plasma adiponectin levels after the implantation of stents in patients with stable angina is unclear.
Methods: The subjects included 32 consecutive patients with stable angina who had undergone successful coronary stenting [bare metal stent (BMS, n=16) or sirolimus-eluting stent (SES, n=16)]. Blood sampling was performed at baseline, and at 24 h, 48 h, 14 days and 6 months after stenting.
Results: Plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels at baseline (0.16+/-0.15 mg/dl) were significantly increased at 24 h (0.36+/-0.45 mg/dl, p=0.011) and 48 h (1.01+/-1.01 mg/dl, p<0.001), and plasma adiponectin levels at baseline (6.7+/-4.2 microg/ml) were significantly decreased at 24 h (6.1+/-4.2 microg/ml, p=0.019) and 48 h (6.2+/-4.9 microg/ml, p=0.010) in all subjects. Although there were no significant differences in changes in plasma hs-CRP and adiponectin levels between BMS and SES groups during the study period, BMS group (6.5+/-0.9 microg/ml at baseline) showed a significant reduction of plasma adiponectin at 48 h (5.8+/-1.1 microg/ml, p=0.022) and 6 months after stenting (4.7+/-2.3 microg/ml, p=0.011). Percent diameter stenosis (%DS) at 6 months after stenting was negatively correlated with changes in the plasma adiponectin levels within 6 months [Delta adiponectin (6 months-baseline)]. In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the %DS at 6 months after stenting was most closely correlated with Delta adiponectin (6 months-baseline) after adjusting for age, sex and body mass index.
Conclusions: Coronary stenting may decrease circulating adiponectin in association with an inflammatory response. The changes in plasma levels of adiponectin after stenting may also be a predictor of coronary restenosis in patients with CAD.