Elevated serum chemerin levels are associated with the presence of coronary artery disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major vascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and reveals high mortality. Serum levels of chemerin have been suggested to be involved in glucose and lipid metabolism and associated with several cardiovascular factors. The aim of this study is to investigate the association of serum chemerin levels with the presence of CAD in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

Serum levels of chemerin were determined in 286 patients with T2DM who underwent coronary angiography for the evaluation of CAD and 128 healthy subjects. The T2DM patients group included 150 patients with CAD and 136 patients without CAD.

RESULTS

Serum chemerin levels were significantly higher in T2DM patients with CAD compared with those without CAD and healthy controls. However, there was no significant difference in the levels of serum chemerin between T2DM patients without CAD and healthy controls. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that serum chemerin levels were an independent determinant of the presence of CAD in patients with T2DM (OR 1.057, 95% CI 1.040 to 1.075; p < 0.001). In addition, linear regression analysis showed that serum chemerin levels were positively correlated with body mass index, systolic blood pressure, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and serum triglycerides.

CONCLUSIONS

There is an independent association between serum levels of chemerin and the presence of CAD in patients with T2DM.