Adiponectin/C-reactive protein interplay in healthy individuals and in patients with coronary artery disease

Herein we report our observations derived from a study of 113 subjects who underwent coronary angiography, of whom 32 were free of coronary lesions (controls). In this work, we aimed to evaluate adiponectin levels at the site of maximal concentration (hepatic veins); and examine a possible association with coronary artery disease (CAD) and the prototypic inflammatory marker C-reactive protein. We found higher mean coronary adiponectin levels in CAD patients than in non-CAD controls. Also, a significant positive correlation was found between hepatic vein adiponectin and coronary C-reactive protein in CAD patients, but this was negative in non-CAD controls. Thus, we may conclude that the beneficial anti-inflammatory activity of adiponectin may be qualitatively reduced in CAD patients.