Abstract 16315: Chemerin is Associated with the Metabolic Syndrome but is not Linked to Angiographically Determined Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Background: The novel adipocytokine chemerin has been suggested to be linked to insulin resistance and to the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Its association with coronary artery disease (CAD) is unclear. We hypothesized that chemerin is associated with both angiographically determined CAD and with the MetS.

Materials and methods: We measured serum chemerin in 498 patients undergoing coronary angiography for the evaluation of established or suspected stable CAD; the MetS was defined according to NCEP-ATPIII criteria; significant CAD was diagnosed when coronary stenoses ≥50% were present.

Results: Chemerin was higher in MetS patients (n=150) than in subjects without the MetS (184±77 vs. 150±62 ng/ml; p<0.001). It did not differ significantly between patients with significant CAD (n=250) and those without significant CAD (p=0.327). When both, MetS and CAD status were considered, chemerin was higher in MetS patients both among those who had significant CAD (182±80 vs. 152±60 ng/ml; p=0.002) and among those who did not have significant CAD (187±73 vs. 148±63 ng/ml; p<0.001); it did not differ significantly between patients with significant CAD and subjects without significant CAD among MetS patients (p=0.248) nor among subjects without MetS (p=0.263). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that from the NCEP-ATPIII metabolic syndrome traits a large waist circumference as well as elevated trigylcerides were independent predictors of elevated serum chemerin (F=12.5; p<0.001 and F=8.5; p=0.004).

Conclusion: We conclude that chemerin is significantly associated with the MetS but not with angiographically determined CAD. The overall association of chemerin with the MetS is carried by its association with visceral obesity and elevated triglycerides.