Longitudinal changes in adiponectin multimer levels in preterm infants.

Background: Preterm infants have altered adiponectin levels at term-equivalent age and have a higher risk of developing components of the metabolic syndrome in later life than term infants.

Aims: To investigate the longitudinal changes in adiponectin levels in preterm infants and to compare the levels between term and preterm infants.

Study Design: A cohort study.

Subjects: The study subjects were 43 term infants and 42 preterm infants born at ≤ 34-week gestation.

Outcome Measures: Serum levels of total adiponectin (T-Ad) and high-molecular-weight adiponectin (HMW-Ad) were measured in 42 preterm infants at term-, 6 month-, and 12 month-equivalent ages. Moreover, the levels in 43 term infants investigated previously were reviewed.

Results: In preterm infants, T-Ad and HMW-Ad levels at the 12 month-equivalent age were lower than at the term- and 6 month-equivalent ages (all values p<0.001), which was consistent with previous results in term infants. The difference in ratios of HMW-Ad to T-Ad between term and preterm infants continued at the 6 month-equivalent age but disappeared at the 12 month-equivalent age. Multiple regression analyses revealed that HMW-Ad levels at term-equivalent age were only a significant determinant of the changes in HMW-Ad between the term- and 12 month-equivalent ages in preterm infants (p<0.001).

Conclusions: The HMW-Ad levels decline till the 12 month-equivalent age in both term and preterm infants. The changes in HMW-Ad level during infancy might be determined at least to a certain degree up to term-equivalent age in preterm infants.