Abstract
Introduction and Aim
A variety of adipokines has been reported in recent years that contribute to many different systemic processes. One of these novel adipokines, apelin, has become popular in the past decades. mRNA expression and peptide immunoreactivity have been described in a variety of tissues, including: gastrointestinal tract, adipose tissue, brain, kidney, liver, cardiovascular system and lungs. This study aimed to investigate the possible involvement of the endogenous apelin–APJ system in the pathophysiological events that occur in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE).
Materials and Methods
In total, 53 PE patients and 35 healthy volunteers, were included the study. Patient's with pulmonary embolism were prospectively randomized from patients diagnosed in a tertiary care university hospital. The control group was created from healthy volunteers who were admitted to hospital for the purpose of a routine health maintenance exam. Serum apelin 13 levels were measured in both groups and the results were compared.
Results
The mean ages were 56.75 ± 19.70, 52.25 ± 12.45 and female/male ratios were 30/23, 20/15, in the PE and control groups, respectively. The mean serum apelin 13 levels were 76.74±93.89 ng/mL and 50.99±26.56 ng/mL, in the PE and control groups, respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p= 0.003).
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that levels of apelin 13 are elevated in patients with PE. The study findings provided novel evidence for the possible regulatory role of apelin in PE. These results suggest that apelin may be a novel biomarker and a potential therapeutic target in patients with acute PE in the future.
- © 2014 ERS
