Increased circulating chemerin in patients with advanced carotid stenosis

Background: Chemerin is an adipokine which plays a crucial role in atherosclerosis. Here, we examined whether circulating chemerin is enhanced in patients with advanced carotid stenosis. Methods: Chemerin was quantified in 178 patients prior to carotid end arterectomy (CEA) and in age-and gendermatched controls (n = 163). Chemerin levels were related to anthropometric, clinical and metabolic characteristics of the patients. Results: Chemerin levels were higher in patients compared to controls (p < 0.001). Chemerin correlated to parameters associated with inflammation such as C-reactive protein (CRP, p < 0.001), leukocyte blood count (p < 0.001) and circulating TNF-alpha (p = 0.004) in the patients. Chemerin levels did not differ between asymptomatic (n = 93) and symptomatic patients who experienced an ischemic event within 6 months prior to CEA (n = 85). However, in the case of high-grade carotid stenosis (= 90%), chemerin levels were higher in symptomatic (n = 44) compared to asymptomatic patients (n = 41, p = 0.014). Chemerin was increased in patients with (n = 50) compared to patients without (n = 128) coronary artery disease (CAD, p = 0.002). A high level of chemerin increases the risk for CAD in patients (p = 0.0013). Conclusions: Circulating chemerin is increased and correlates to inflammatory parameters in patients with advanced carotid stenosis.