OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of serum chemerin with degenerative aortic valve disease (DAVD) in patients with metabolic syndrome.

METHODSFrom July, 2012 to July, 2013, 48 patients with metabolic syndrome (mean age 56.33∓6.14 years, including 25 male and 23 female patients), 48 patients with metabolic syndrome and DAVD (mean age 60.16∓6.72 years, 24 males and 21 females), and 48 adult healthy volunteers (mean age 52.94∓8.28 years, 23 males and 25 females) were examined for triglyceride, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, fasting glucose, C-reactive protein and other biochemical indexes. Serum chemerin levels were detected using ELISA for all the subjects.

RESULTSPatients with metabolic syndrome had higher levels of serum chemerin than the healthy subjects, and patients with DAVD had higher chemerin levels than those with DAVD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that increased serum chemerin level is a predictor of aortic valve degeneration in patients with metabolic syndrome. Univariate linear regression analysis showed that serum chemerin levels, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, total triglyceride and C-reactive protein were associated with metabolic syndrome. Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis identified correlations of body mass index and C-reactive protein with serum chemerin level.

CONCLUSIONElevated serum chemerin level can be a predictor for DAVD in patients with metabolic syndrome.