Elevated serum adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein concentrations are independently associated with renal dysfunction in patients with stable angina pectoris

A total of 221 patients with significant coronary artery stenosis were enrolled after coronary angiography. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. The severity of coronary stenosis was assessed using a modified Gensini score and coronary angiography. Serum A-FABP levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Serum A-FABP levels were significantly correlated with both eGFR (r = -0.41, p < 0.01) and the severity of coronary artery stenosis (r = 0.16, p = 0.02), and these relationships remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors. The prevalence of CKD and multi-vessel disease was significantly higher among patients with serum A-FABP levels above the median value of 20.3 ng/ml than among patients with serum A-FABP levels below the median value (57% vs. 27%, p < 0.01 and 64% vs. 48%, p = 0.02, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of three-vessel disease in comparison with single-vessel disease was independently associated with the higher A-FABP (per doubling) (odds ratio; 2.26, 95% confidential interval; 1.28-3.98, p < 0.01) and tended to be associated with the lower eGFR (p = 0.06).Serum A-FABP may have a significant role in the interplay between renal dysfunction and coronary atherosclerosis.Obesity and obesity-associated disorders, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, are rapidly increasing in developed countries. In association with weight gain, the hyperplasia and hypertrophy of adipocytes influence the secretion pattern of adipocyte-derived proteins, adipokines, by adipose tissue. Recent evidence shows that adipokines contribute to the increased metabolic and cardiovascular risk among obese patients [1]. Among those adipokines, adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP), also known as aP2 or FABP4, is small intracellular lipid-binding protein which is expressed abundantly in adipocytes and activated macrophages [2].