Relation between adiponectin and brain natriuretic peptide in healthy pediatric subjects: From birth through childhood.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: New biomarkers potentially improve clinical management of cardiovascular disease, but there are gaps in understanding their role during childhood. Adiponectin regulates metabolism and exerts anti-inflammatory/anti-atherogenic effects. The aim of the study was to evaluate circulating levels of adiponectin during postnatal growth and its relationship with Brain Natriuretic Peptide (BNP) in healthy children, a marker of cardiac function known to be increased in childhood. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma adiponectin and BNP were measured in 131 healthy children divided into: 43 newborns (0-3 days), 29 neonates (4-30 days), 25 infants (1-12 months) and 34 children (1-12 years). A group of 33 healthy adult subjects (25-60 years) was also studied. Plasma adiponectin in the 131 children resulted significantly higher compared to adult subjects (p < 0.0001). The time-course of adiponectin suggests the design of three age-based intervals: the first until 1 month of age (median 29.07 ?g/mL, 11.61-47.01 ?g/mL 5°-95° percentiles), the second between 1 and 12 months of age (21.66 ?g/mL, 8.83-59.81 ?g/mL) and the third for age up to 12 years (13.81 ?g/mL, 4.10-28.57 ?g/mL). Both adiponectin and BNP exhibited the same trend of a progressive decrease during growth, showing a significant relationship (Spearman's rho = 0.403, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Adiponectin plasma levels in a healthy pediatric population vary as a function of age. Three reference intervals for adiponectin in pediatric subjects have been indicated. The relationship between adiponectin and BNP suggests that the age-dependent profile of circulating adiponectin could also be due to BNP.