The Role of Serum Apelin Levels in Peripheral Artery Disease

Abstract

Apelin is a bioactive mediator released by adipose tissue that can be involved in energy metabolism events and coronary artery disease. This study aims to investigate the role of serum apelin levels in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). The present observational case-control study consisted of 100 subjects (50 angiographically proven PAD patients and 50 healthy controls). Serum apelin and apelin receptor (APJ) levels were measured with blood samples. Clinical and laboratory findings were obtained from the hospital database system. The association between serum apelin levels, and PAD was investigated. The number of smokers and subjects with hypertension, coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus was higher in the PAD group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Mean serum apelin levels were lower in the peripheral artery group than in the control group (mean: 13.94, SD 4.34 vs. mean: 16.79, SD 4.2, P = 0.001). On the other hand, the mean APJ levels were higher in the control group (mean: 36.1, SD 19.1 vs. mean: 27.7, SD 13.1, P = 0.019). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups (20 (41.6%) vs. 21 (42%), P = 973) regarding the obesity. Our findings revealed that hypertension, smoking and diabetes mellitus rates were higher among patients with PAD. In fact, the lower apelin levels and higher APJ levels were risk factors associated with PAD; the obesity was not related with development of PAD.