Determination of the cut-off plasma adiponectin level associated with a lower risk of restenosis in patients with stable angina.

Objective: Hypoadiponectinemia is an independent predictor for the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD); however, the importance of plasma adiponectin levels in the midterm clinical outcome in patients with CAD who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between plasma adiponectin levels and midterm clinical outcome in patients with CAD who underwent PCI.

Materials And Methods: A total of 112 patients (120 lesions) with stable angina who underwent PCI under intravascular ultrasound guidance, and who underwent follow-up coronary angiography about 8 months after PCI from August 2004 to December 2009 were enrolled in this study.

Results: Plasma adiponectin levels were significantly lower in the group with restenosis (n=13) than in the group without restenosis (n=107) (4.2±1.5 vs. 6.8±4.9 μg/ml, P<0.0001). A two-graph receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that the cut-off point of adiponectin was 6.0 μg/ml. Although plasma adiponectin levels were independent of well-known risk factors of CAD, a multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the higher adiponectin group (patients with hyperadiponectinemia) was independently associated with lower risk of restenosis (odds ratio=0.21, 95% confidence interval=0.03-0.82).

Conclusion: Hyperadiponectinemia (plasma adiponectin levels ≥6.0 μg/ml) is independently associated with a lower risk of restenosis. Thus, the plasma adiponectin level may be useful as a marker of restenosis independent of preinterventional intravascular ultrasound variables.