Serum adipsin levels in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis: Preliminary data

Background: Several studies have outlined a possible relationship between adipokines ana respiratory allergic diseases. However, there are no data about a role for adipsin in allergic rhinitis. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum adipsin levels in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), subdivided into two sub-groups: treated or not treated with sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT), and in a group of healthy controls. Methods: The study included 110 subjects; i) 24 SLIT-treated SAR patients, ii) 62 untreated SAR patients, and iii) 24 normal subjects. All subjects were consecutively evaluated. A skin prick test and blood sampling for assessing serum adipsin levels were per-formed in all subjects. Results: Serum adipsin was increased in SAR patients, even though significant only in males. There was also a significant positive association between adipsin and adiponectin. Conclusion: This preliminary study reports that adipsin serum levels may be increased in some SAR patients, but further functional studies should be performed. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.