Serum leptin, resistin, visfatin and adiponectin levels in tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS)

Objectives. The aims of our study were to evaluate serum leptin, resistin, visfatin and adiponectin levels in patients with tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome (TRAPS), in comparison to healthy controls, and to correlate their levels to parameters of disease activity and/or severity. Methods. Serum leptin, resistin, visfatin and adiponectin levels were obtained from 14 TRAPS patients carrying mutations involving cysteine residues, from 16 TRAPS patients carrying other mutations, and from 16 healthy controls. Demographic, clinical and laboratory parameters, including amyloidosis were entered for each patient. Comparisons between groups as well as reciprocal comparisons have been evaluated. Results. Serum leptin, resistin, visfatin and adiponectin did not significantly differ among the 3 groups. Patients carrying cysteine residues mutations showed lower visfatin serum levels than patients carrying other mutations (p<0.02). Serum leptin significantly correlated with the number of attacks/year (multiple R=0.32, multiple adjusted R-2=0.19, p<0.03). Serum adiponectin levels significantly correlated with the presence of amyloidosis (multiple R=0.79, multiple adjusted R-2=0.57, p<0.03). Adiponectin values were a significant predictor for amyloidosis (AUC 0.75, 95 CI: 0.56-0.94, p<0.03), with a predicting cut-off value set at 23.16 pg/ml, the predictive positive value was 53.8%. Visfatin serum levels resulted respectively related to leptin (r(s)=0.42, r(2)=0.18, p<0.02) and to resistin (r(s)=0.57, r(2)=0.32, p<0.01) serum levels; whilst leptin and resistin serum levels did not reciprocally correlate. Conclusion. Although a prospective design study and larger cohort are mandatory, adipokines serum levels and their correlations with parameters of disease activity and/or severity seem to show a baseline pattern in TRAPS patients.