Imbalance between protective (adiponectin) and prothrombotic (Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1) adipokines in metabolic syndrome.

AIMS: The metabolic syndrome (MS) consists of a constellation of metabolic abnormalities that confer increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). Visceral adipose tissue actively produces a variety of adipokines that interact in various obesity related disorders such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus and heart diseases. Adiponectin has protective role in the vascular physiology while Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) has a prothrombotic and consequent deleterious effect on the endothelium. We attempted to assess the putative imbalance if any between these two mediators in subjects with metabolic syndrome in the Indian context.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 50 diagnosed case of metabolic syndrome as per International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria and 50 healthy volunteers as control. Clinical evaluation included anthropometric, routine biochemical analysis as well as adiponectin and PAI-1 measurement.

RESULT: Subject with MS had significantly lower adiponectin (9.8±1.0 vs 16±1.1 μg/ml) and higher PAI-1 (232±87 vs 185±96 ng/ml). A statistically significant correlation was observed between adiponectin and HDL levels (r=0.388, p=0.005).

CONCLUSION: Subjects with MS have lower adiponectin and higher PAI-1 levels as compared to controls. The subsequent tilt toward a more prothrombotic and pro inflammatory milieu in the vascular endothelium may be pathognomonic of metabolic syndrome. This understanding of the still undiscovered subtle vascular alterations may help in the better management of obesity and MS.