Which adipokines are associated with chronic inflammation in hypertensive patients with obesity? A pilot study

Objective. The study was perform to assess the association between serum levels of adipokines and chronic inflammation  in non-diabetic hypertensive patients with obesity. Methods. 54 patients aged 58±11 years were divided according to BMI into 3 groups of obesity classes: A – class I (n=25); B – class II (n=14); and C – class III (n=15). The patients were also divided into groups receiving statins or fibrates (n=31) or not (n=23). Results. Leptin was higher in group C compared to A and B (62.0±32.1 ng/ml vs. 32.7±21.5 ng/ml; pu003c0.01 and vs. 36.1±16.4 ng/ml; pu003c0.05; respectively); hsCRP was higher in group C than in A (3.8±1.7 mg/l vs. 2.1±1.6 mg/l; pu003c0.01). Resistin, hsCRP and IL-6 were higher in the patients without hypolipidemic treatment (1.11±0.42 ng/ml vs. 0.89±0.26 ng/ml, pu003c0.05; 3.4±1.9 mg/l vs. 2.4±1.9 mg/l, pu003c0.05 and 16.1±7.3 pg/ml vs. 13.5±10.3 pg/ml; pu003c0.01 respectively). Leptin correlated with hsCRP in the whole study population (r=0.318, pu003c0.05), in patients  receiving hypolipidemic therapy (r=0.434, pu003c0.05) and with TNF-a in group C (r=0.506, p=0.05). Conclusions. Leptin is associated with chronic inflammation in hypertensive patients with obesity. Hypolipidemic treatment may reduce chronic inflammation not only by decreasing hsCRP and IL-6 circulating levels but also by lowering resistin serum level.