P7.07 IMPACT OF HYPERLEPTINEMIA ON ARTERIAL STIFFNESS IN A COMMUNITY POPULATION SAMPLE

Abstract

Purpose: Leptin plays a regulatory role in body weight by controlling appetite and energy consumption. Elevated plasma leptin levels (hyperleptinemia) have been suggested to contribute to pathogenesis of diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. We investigated the differential effects of adiponectin, leptin and resistin levels on wave reflections, an index of arterial stiffness in a community population sample. Methods: The study population consisted of 97 subjects (mean age: 46.4±10.5 yrs, 57M/40F), 28 subjects were hypertensives, 22 subjects had dyslipidemia, 4 suffered from diabetes and 32 individuals were obese. Subjects were free of overt cardiovascular disease. Wave reflections were evaluatedwith augmentation index (AIx) of the aortic pressure waveform using commercially available system. Leptin, adiponectin and resistin levels were measured by ELISA kit. Results: Leptin was associated with AIx (r=0.409, P<0.001) and Tr (an index of pulse wave velocity, r=-0.385, P<0.001). Levels of resistin and adiponectin were not correlated with AIx and Tr. After adjustment for confounding factors (age, brachial systolic pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, weight, height, heart rate and hsCRP) leptin levels were independently associated with AIx (R2=0.605, coefficient st=0.268p=0.001). Conclusion: In contrast to other adipocytokines, leptin levels were associated with arterial stiffness, independently of other confounding factors. Given the prognostic role of arterial stiffness for cardiovascular events, these findings are important to further characterize the increase of cardiovascular risk in subjects with elevated levels of leptin.