Abstract: 【Abstract】 Objective To observe serum adiponectin (ADPN) change in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and to investigate the correlation between serum ADPN and complications. Methods we measured serum ADPN, albumin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, lipoproteins, C-reactive protein, fasting glucose and fasting insulin in 79 MHD patents and 16 healthy individuals. Body mass index (BMI), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), Kt/V and normalized protein catabolic rate (nPCR) were calculated from established formulas. We then correlated serum ADPN levels with diabetes, hypertension and cardiocerebral vascular diseases in MHD patients. Results Serum ADPN was significantly higher in MHD patients (13.73±8.64mg/L) than in healthy individuals (6.27±3.57mg/L, P＜0.01). Serum ADPN correlated reversely with BMI, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, C-reactive protein and triglycerides, and positively with total cholesterol and high density lipoproteins. Serum ADPN was partially affected by Kt/V, and was lower in MHD patients with diabetes and cardiocerebral vascular diseases. Conclusion Serum ADPN increases significantly in MHD patients. Serum ADPN is closely correlated with insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis, and may be a protective factor for cardiocerebral vascular system in MHD patients.

Key words: Adiponectin, Insulin resistance, Dyslipidemia, Atherosclerosis