Korean Diabetes J KDJ Korean Diabetes Journal 1976-9180 Korean Diabetes Association 10.4093/kdj.2009.33.2.105 Original Article The Relationship between Serum Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Levels and Coronary Artery Disease in Korean Adults Kim Ji-Hoon 1 Rhee Eun-Jung 1 Choi Eun-Suk 1 Won Jong-Chul 1 Park Cheol-Young 1 Lee Won-Young 1 Oh Ki-Won 1 Kim Byung-Jin 2 Sung Ki-Chul 2 Kim Bum-Soo 2 Kang Jin-Ho 2 Park Sung-Woo 1 Kim Sun-Woo 1 Lee Man-Ho 2 Park Jung-Roe 2 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Department of Cardiology, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hongsiri@hanmail.net 04 2009 30 04 2009 33 2 105 112 16 02 2009 13 04 2009 Copyright © 2009 Korean Diabetes Association 2009 Background

A recently discovered adipokine, retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4), is reportedly associated with insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome. This study was performed to analyze the relationship between serum RBP-4 levels and coronary artery disease (CAD) in Korean adults.

 Methods

In 235 subjects (mean age 58 years) in whom coronary artery angiograms were performed due to complaints of chest pain, serum RBP-4 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Coronary artery angiograms were performed in all subjects and the severity of CAD was assessed by the number of stenotic vessels. The presence of metabolic syndrome was defined by AHA/NHLBI criteria with body mass index substituted for waist circumference.

 Results

Coronary angiogram showed that 101 subjects (43%) had normal coronary vessel, 82 subjects (34.9%) had 1-vessel disease, 31 subjects (13.2%) had 2-vessel disease and 21 subjects (8.9%) had 3-vessel disease. Subjects with coronary artery stenosis showed a higher mean age (60.5 ± 10.0 years), fasting glucose (123.3 mg ± 45.0 mg/dL) and lower mean value for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level (49.0 ± 13.2 mg/dL), although serum RBP-4 levels were not significantly different between those with and without CAD. Mean age and fasting glucose level increased significantly as the number of stenotic vessels increased, although serum RBP4 level showed no significant differences among the different groups. Among the metabolic parameters, only serum triglyceride levels showed a significant correlation with serum RBP-4 levels.

 Conclusion

There was no difference in mean serum RBP-4 levels between subjects with or without coronary artery disease in Korean adults. Further studies are warranted to draw a clear conclusion on the effect of RBP-4 on atherosclerosis.

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Baseline characteristics of the participants

Data was given as mean ± SD and number of cases (%). BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; RBP-4, retinol-binding protein-4.

Comparisons of the variables according to the presence of coronary artery stenosis

Data was given as mean ± SD. *Analyses were performed with Student's t-test. BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; CAD, coronary artery disease; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; RBP-4, retinol-binding protein-4.

Comparisons of the variables according to the number of stenotic vessels

Data was given as mean ± SD. *Analyses were performed with one-way ANOVA test. BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; FBS, fasting blood glucose; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; RBP-4, retinol-binding protein-4; TC, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride.

Bivariate correlation coefficient between the metabolic parameters and serum RBP4 level

*P < 0.05 in bivariate correlation analyses, †P < 0.01 in bivariate correlation analyses. BMI, body mass index; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; FBS, fasting blood glucose; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; RBP-4, retinol-binding protein-4; SBP, systolic blood pressure; T-chol, total cholesterol; TG, triglyceride.

Comparisons of the variables according to the metabolic disease status defined by AHA/NHLBI

Data was given as mean ± SD. AHA/NHLBI, American Heart association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; BMI, body mass index; BP, blood pressure; HDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDL-C, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; RBP-4, retinol-binding protein-4.