Research

Changes in serum adiponectin concentrations in critical illness: a preliminary investigation

Bala Venkatesh¹ , Ingrid Hickman² , Janelle Nisbet² , Jeremy Cohen³ and John Prins²

¹  Department of Intensive Care, Princess Alexandra & Wesley Hospitals, University of Queensland, Ipswich Road, QLD 4102, Woolloongabba, Australia

²  Department of Endocrinology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, University of Queensland, Ipswich Road, QLD 4102, Woolloongabba, Australia

³  Department of Intensive Care, Royal Brisbane Hospital, University of Queensland, Butterfield Street, Herston Road, Herston, QLD 4029, Brisbane, Australia

author email corresponding author email

Critical Care 2009, 13:R105doi:10.1186/cc7941

Published:	2 July 2009

See related commentary by Owecki, http://ccforum.com/content/13/4/174

Abstract

Introduction

Adiponectin plays an important role in the regulation of tissue inflammation and insulin sensitivity. Perturbations in adiponectin concentration have been associated with obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Data on adiponectin pathophysiology in critical illness are limited.

Methods

Twenty three critically ill patients (9 severe sepsis, 7 burns, 7 trauma). Adiponectin assays on Days 3 (D3) and 7 (D7). Simultaneous, cortisol, cortisone and CRP measurements. Data from 16 historical controls were used for comparison.

Results

The mean plasma adiponectin concentration for the ICU cohort on D3 and D7 were not significantly different (4.1 ± 1.8 and 5.0 ± 3.3 mcg/ml respectively, P = 0.38). However, these were significantly lower than the mean plasma adiponectin in the control population (8.78 ± 3.81 mcg/ml) at D3 (P < 0.0001) and D7 (P = 0.002). Plasma adiponectin showed a strong correlation with plasma cortisol in the ICU group on both D3 (R² = 0.32, P < 0.01) and D7 (R² = 0.64, 0.001). There was an inverse correlation between plasma adiponectin and CRP on D7, R = -0.35.

Conclusions

In this preliminary study, critical illness was associated with lower adiponectin concentrations as compared with controls. A significant relationship between plasma cortisol and adiponectin in critically ill patients was evident, both during the early and late phases. These data raise the possibility that adiponectin may play a part in the inflammatory response in patients with severe illness.