Association between mean platelet volume and adiponectin in patients with metabolic syndrome

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome is a significant pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulant condition. The clinical association of adiponectin, a mainly antidiabetogenic molecule, and its interaction with platelets and platelet indices remains insufficiently investigated. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to investigate the association of adiponectin with platelets and platelet indices in patients with metabolic syndrome. METHODS: The investigation was conducted as a cross-sectional study involving 113 subjects: 63 patients with the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, and 50 healthy controls - with clear inclusion and exclusion criteria. The group of patients with metabolic syndrome was divided into two subgroups according to the platelet/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio. RESULTS: The subgroup with a higher platelet/HDL ratio was prediabetic. In the same subgroup of patients, a positive correlation between the adiponectin and mean platelet volume (MPV) was seen, while linear regression (95% CI) confirmed the association. CONCLUSION: Considering that MPV is the index that indicates average platelet volume and activity, we believe this association with adiponectin can represent a protective compensatory response in patients with metabolic syndrome and prediabetes. Our results provide a basis for a more precise selection of patients in whom the future therapeutic application of recombinant adiponectin would be most effective.