Adiponectin is associated with brain natriuretic peptide and left ventricular hypertrophy in hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, has been shown to prevent the progression of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). However, recent studies have demonstrated increased levels of adiponectin according to the severity of chronic heart failure. We therefore investigated the relationships between adiponectin, brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and LVH in type 2 diabetic patients on hemodialysis. METHODS: The study population comprised 41 type 2 diabetic patients on hemodialysis. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and criteria for LVH were determined on the basis of echocardiographic findings. Serum adiponectin and plasma BNP levels were assayed with a commercially available kit. RESULTS: Serum adiponectin levels significantly correlated with BMI (r = -0.49, p < 0.01), HDL-C (r = 0.36, p < 0.05) and TG (r = -0.49, p < 0.01). In addition, serum adiponectin levels correlated significantly and positively with plasma BNP levels (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). This relationship remained significant after adjustment for age, gender, and BMI (r = 0.34, p < 0.05). Serum adiponectin levels as well as plasma BNP levels were significantly higher than in patients without LVH (p < 0.05; p < 0.01, respectively), accompanied by a positive correlation between these levels and LVMI (r = 0.42, p < 0.01; r = 0.32, p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Increased levels of adiponectin were associated with elevated BNP levels and LVH in hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is speculated that adiponectin levels may be modulated by chronic hypervolemic state in this population.

Calcium, phosphorus, cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients: a single-center retrospective cohort study to reassess the validity of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy guidelines.

Mineral and bone disorders frequently cause cardiovascular complications and mortality in hemodialysis patients, but few observational studies of Japanese patients have investigated this matter. A retrospective cohort study of 99 patients (53 males, 46 females; mean age: 65 +/- 12 year; 38% with diabetes mellitus) on maintenance hemodialysis in our dialysis center was conducted. Mean serum Ca, P and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels were 9.2 +/- 0.9 mg/dL, 6.1 +/- 1.7 mg/dL, and 233 +/- 333 pg/mL, respectively. The cutoff values for each of these three parameter were defined according to the target ranges recommended by the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT) guidelines (Ca: 8.4-10.0 mg/dL; P: 3.5-6.0 mg/dL; iPTH: 60-180 pg/mL). During a 45-month follow up, patients with all parameters outside the target ranges showed the highest incidence of cardiovascular events and all-cause deaths (16.6 and 29.2 per 1000 person-years, respectively). The relative risks of cardiovascular events and all-cause deaths were analyzed by multivariate Cox regression models. The hazard ratio (HR) for cardiovascular events was significantly lower for patients who achieved serum Ca and P objectives compared with others (HR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.04-4.34; P < 0.05), and similar differences were observed for all-cause deaths (HR: 3.10; 95% CI: 1.13-8.53; P < 0.05). However, the relationship between iPTH levels and each of the endpoints was less pronounced. The results of this study provide support for the JSDT guidelines, which give priority to the control of serum Ca and P levels over the control of parathyroid function.

Increased serum high-molecular-weight complex of adiponectin in type 2 diabetic patients with impaired renal function.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Adiponectin, an adipocyte-derived protein, has been shown to exert antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antiatherosclerotic effects. Although recent reports show an increase in the total adiponectin levels in chronic kidney disease patients and in patients with end-stage renal disease, the nature of biodegradation and renal involvement of adiponectin is largely unknown. We aimed at determining whether the high-molecular-weight (HMW) complex of adiponectin is associated with renal insufficiency in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: A total of 179 type 2 diabetic patients were selected from among outpatients and divided into four groups according to their albumin-to-creatinine ratio: patients with normoalbuminuria (n = 86), patients with microalbuminuria (n = 44), patients with macroalbuminuria (n = 23), and patients on hemodialysis (n = 26). The serum HMW adiponectin was specifically assayed with a commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS: The HMW adiponectin levels were higher in patients on hemodialysis (17.1 +/- 8.2 microg/ml) and in those with macroalbuminuria (14.3 +/- 8.7 microg/ml) than in patients with normoalbuminuria (7.2 +/- 5.6 microg/ml) and microalbuminuria (10.8 +/- 7.0 microg/ml). Univariate linear regression analysis showed that the HMW adiponectin concentrations correlated negatively with the estimated glomerular filtration rate in patients with normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, and macroalbuminuria (r = -0.42, p < 0.001). Multiple stepwise regression analysis disclosed that estimated glomerular filtration rate, pioglitazone therapy, gender differences, and systolic blood pressure were independently associated with HMW adiponectin levels (r = 0.56). CONCLUSIONS: The serum HMW adiponectin concentrations are higher in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy, and these levels are also associated with renal insufficiency.