Adiponectin levels in patients with intracranial atherosclerosis

Adiponectin is a protein secreted by adipose cells that improves insulin sensitivity and possesses antiatherogenic properties. In this study, we investigated the relationship between adiponectin levels and ischemic stroke subtype.

Using clinical, imaging, and laboratory data, 231 consecutive patients admitted to a university medical center over a 2-year period with acute cerebral infarcts were categorized into four subtypes: intracranial atherosclerosis (n = 67), extracranial atherosclerosis (n = 61), small arterial occlusion (n = 63), and cardioembolic (n = 40). Clinical features, risk factors including the presence of metabolic syndrome, and levels of s-adiponectin were compared between groups.

Patients with more severe metabolic abnormalities were more likely to have lower s-adiponectin levels (p = 0.002). S-adiponectin levels differed by stroke subtype: highest in the cardioembolic group and lowest in the intracranial atherosclerosis group (8.42 +/- 5.07 vs 5.60 +/- 2.79 microg/mL, p = 0.01). Extracranial atherosclerosis (6.45 +/- 4.10 microg/mL) and small arterial occlusion (6.07 +/- 3.44 microg/mL) groups were intermediate. Patients with advanced intracranial atherosclerosis (> or =1 additional lesion outside the symptomatic arterial territory) had lower s-adiponectin levels than those with isolated intracranial atherosclerosis (4.95 +/- 2.63 vs 6.13 +/- 2.84 microg/mL, p = 0.003). In multiple regression analysis, s-adiponectin levels, but not metabolic syndrome, were independently associated with intracranial atherosclerosis.

Symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis is associated with lower s-adiponectin levels vs other ischemic stroke subtypes.