Circulating visfatin in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objective: Malnutrition and continuous systemic inflammation occur frequently in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Visfatin is a new adipokine, which increases in some inflammatory diseases. Its plasma level and relation with nutritional status and inflammation in COPD remain unknown. This study compared visfatin levels, nutritional status, and inflammation markers in patients with COPD and healthy controls. Methods: Plasma visfatin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 35 patients with COPD and 28 healthy controls. Body composition was assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results: Significantly lower body mass index and percentage of body fat were observed in patients with COPD compared with control subjects. The levels of plasma visfatin were higher in the COPD group compared with healthy controls (2.07 +/- 0.18 versus 1.88 +/- 0.15 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Levels of TNF-alpha and CRP were also significantly higher in patients with COPD compared with controls. Plasma CRP and TNF-alpha were positively correlated with visfatin in the COPD group, No significant correlations were found between visfatin and body mass index or percentage of body fat in both groups. Conclusion: Plasma visfatin levels increased in patients with COPD. This increased adipocytokine was significantly correlated with TNF-alpha and CRP. Visfatin may be a new proinflammatory adipocytokine in this disease. (C) 2009 Published by Elsevier Inc.