NEW BIOMARKERS TO PREDICT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH ADRENAL INCIDENTALOMA; IRISIN AND NESFATIN-1

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

• Nonfunctional adrenal incidentaloma (NFAI) represents adrenal masses discovered incidentally.
• Emerging biomarkers like irisin and nesfatin-1 are being investigated for their roles in metabolic and cardiovascular health.
• The relationship between these novel molecules and subclinical cardiovascular disease markers in NFAI is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate serum irisin and nesfatin-1 levels in patients with NFAI.
• To examine the association between irisin and nesfatin-1 levels and cardiometabolic risk markers, specifically carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness, in NFAI patients.

Main Methods:

• A case-control study involving 59 patients with NFAI and 59 matched healthy controls.
• Measurements included serum levels of glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein, lipids, irisin, and nesfatin-1.
• Echocardiographic assessment of CIMT and EAT thickness was performed.

Main Results:

• Irisin levels were significantly higher in the NFAI group (17.58 ± 4.38 pg/mL) compared to controls (14.03 ± 4.03 pg/mL).
• Nesfatin-1 levels were significantly lower in the NFAI group (194.98 ± 119.15 pg/mL) versus controls (303.48 ± 200.78 pg/mL).
• A positive correlation was observed between irisin and nesfatin-1 levels and CIMT and EAT thickness in NFAI patients.

Conclusions:

• Patients with NFAI exhibit altered levels of irisin and nesfatin-1, with higher irisin and lower nesfatin-1 observed.
• Both irisin and nesfatin-1 levels are associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease markers (CIMT and EAT) in individuals with NFAI.
• These findings suggest a potential role for irisin and nesfatin-1 in the cardiometabolic risk associated with NFAI.