Plasma adiponectin is associated with ankle-brachial index in patients on haemodialysis

SUMMARY: Background: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a leading cause of morbidity in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Recent evidence suggests that adiponectin, an adipose-derived cytokine, may play a role in atherosclerosis. However, the association between plasma levels of the adiponectin and the ankle-brachial index (ABI), an indicator of the presence and severity of PAD, has not been thoroughly studied in HD patients. Methods: The present cross-sectional study attempted to examine the relationship between plasma adiponectin and PAD in a cohort of 136 chronic HD patients. The ABI was used as an estimate of the presence of PAD. Plasma adiponectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumour necrosis factor-α and lipid profiles were measured. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between presence of PAD and adiponectin as well as other potential risk factors. Results: Plasma levels of adiponectin were significantly lower among patients with evidence of PAD than among those without (8.51 ± 5.75 vs 17.15 ± 11.53; P