Adiponectin and cardiovascular remodeling in end-stage renal disease and co-morbid diabetes mellitus.

Altered plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and adiponectin (ADP) may contribute to increased vascular inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and co-morbid diabetes. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) and atherosclerotic plaque occurrence, left-ventricular mass index (LVMI), and pulse wave velocity of the proximal aorta (PWVr) were determined by ultrasound imaging in 120 ESRD (55 diabetic) patients, and 83 age-, sex-, and blood pressure-matched controls. Also, plasma levels of ADP and hs-CRP were determined and their relationships with the above cardiovascular alterations were analyzed. LVMI, PWVr, CCA-IMT and atherosclerotic plaque occurrence were all increased in ESRD patients compared to controls (all p < 0.001). LVMI (p < 0.05), PWVr (p < 0.001), CCA-IMT (p < 0.001) and atherosclerotic plaque occurrence (p < 0.001) were increased in diabetic compared to nondiabetic ESRD patients. Hs-CRP levels were increased and ADP levels were decreased in diabetic compared to nondiabetic ESRD patients (both p < 0.001). ADP levels correlated inversely with hs-CRP (r = -0.473, p < 0.0001) in ESRD patients. Hs-CRP was positively correlated with LVMI (r = 0.365, p < 0.0001), PWVr (r = 0.42, p < 0.0001) and CCA-IMT (r = 0.18, p = 0.047) while ADP inversely correlated with PWVr (r = -0.263, p = 0.0035) and CCA-IMT (r = -0.207, p = 0.022) in ESRD patients. The present results indicate diabetic disease-specific alterations in the biochemical parameters of hs-CRP and ADP in ESRD patients. The above biochemical parameters were intimately linked to the cardiovascular measurements of LVMI, PWVr and CCA-IMT in patients with ESRD and co-morbid diabetes mellitus. Copyright (c) 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.