Assessment of serum levels of adiponectin and resistin in adult patients with asthma: relation to obesity and disease severity

Introduction The mechanisms connecting obesity and asthma are complex. Mechanical and inflammatory factors have been proposed. Adipose tissues secrete various adipokines. Some are proinflammatory such as resistin, whereas others are anti-inflammatory such as adiponectin. We aimed to assess the serum levels of adiponectin and resistin in patients with asthma and correlate them with asthma control and severity as well as obesity parameters of the participants. Patients and methods This case–control study included 64 patients with asthma and 24 healthy controls. They were all subjected to anthropometric measurements, asthma control test, pulmonary function tests, skin prick test, and total serum immunoglobulin E levels. Serum adiponectin and resistin concentrations were measured. Results Adiponectin and resistin levels were significantly higher among patients with asthma than controls (P<0.001). Serum resistin levels were significantly higher in obese patients with asthma than nonobese (P<0.001), whereas adiponectin levels were not different between the two subgroups. Serum adiponectin level was positively correlated with the duration of asthma, forced expiratory volume in 1 s /forced vital capacity ratio, and resistin level, whereas resistin level was positively correlated with age, sex, and body fat percentage. Resistin/adiponectin ratio was positively correlated with body fat percentage. Conclusion Adiponectin and resistin levels were higher in patients with asthma. Moreover, resistin was higher in obese than nonobese patients with asthma. These findings could provide novel insights into their role in asthma and their potential use as therapeutic targets.