Adiponectin multimers in patients with Barrett's Oesophagus

Barrett's oesophagus is associated with abdominal obesity. Adiponectin is a peptide that is secreted from adipocytes and circulates in three multimeric forms: low molecular weight (LMW), middle molecular weight (MMW), and high molecular weight (HMW). The anti-inflammatory effects of adiponectin are specific to individual multimers, with the LMW being most anti-inflammatory. We investigated the possibility that circulating levels of adiponectin and its multimers would be associated with the risk of Barrett's oesophagus. Subjects and methods This study comprised patients diagnosed to have Barrett's oesophagus, and control subjects diagnosed to have gastrooesophageal reflux disease (GORD), all were diagnosed in the gastroenterology and endoscopy unit, King Fahd hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Plasma adiponectin levels and its multimers were evaluated for patients with Barrett's oesophagus and controls with GORD. Results There were 120 cases of Barrett's oesophagus and 250 GORD controls. Total adiponectin was not significantly associated with Barrett's oesophagus; low levels of LMW adiponectin and low LMW/total ratio were significantly present in patients with Barrett's oesophagus. Conclusion Low levels of LMW adiponectin are significantly associated with Barrett's oesophagus.