Common Carotid Intima–Media Thickness, Levels of Total and High-Molecular Weight Adiponectin in Women With Abdominal Obesity

OBJECTIVE: to investigate influence of different forms of adiponectin on carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in women with abdominal obesity (AO) in St.‑Petersburg. It has been recognized before that AO is associated with cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, but mechanism of this association remains unclear. AO leads to imbalance of adipokines, in particularly decrease of adiponectin, which may lead to atherosclerotic lesion of carotid arteries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated 81 women with AO (IDF criteria, 2005) and 21 women with normal waist circumference. СIMT was evaluated by an ultrasound scanner. RESULTS: Among patients with AO 54.9 % had CIMT >0.9 mm and 38.5 % had atherosclerotic plaques in common carotid arteries. The total adiponectin level (TA) was lower in women with CIMT> 0.9 mm, than in women with normal CIMT (23.20 [2.55; 40.65] and 18.09 [1.60; 38.92] μg/ml, respectively; р0.9 mm, than in women with normal CIMT (2.21 [0.50; 6.85] and 2.88 [1.29; 15.45] μg/ml, respectively; р0.9 mm, than in women with CIMT >0.9 mm and atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries (3.09 [1.34; 6.85] and1.82 [0.50; 2.94] mcg/ml, respectively; р0.9 mm depended on waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and level of C-reactive protein (CRP), while presence of atherosclerotic plaques was associated with levels of HMWA and CRP. CONCLUSIONS: Factors that make the greatest contribution at early stages of atherosclerosis development in carotid arteries in women with AO can be increased waist circumference, high diastolic blood pressure, and high level of CRP. At later stages of atherosclerosis development lowered HMWA level can contribute to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.