Temporal profile of plasma adiponectin level and delayed cerebral ischemia in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage

Adiponectin affects nitric oxide production, and low plasma adiponectin levels are associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. However, adiponectin pathophysiology in the acute phase after stroke, especially subarachnoid hemorrhage, is not well understood. The present study evaluated the changes in plasma adiponectin concentrations in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage and investigated the relationship between plasma adiponectin and delayed cerebral ischemia. Serial plasma samples from 27 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage were obtained on day 0 or 1 after hemorrhage, and days 3, 7, 10, 14, and 21. As a control, plasma samples were obtained from 26 healthy volunteers. Differences between patients with and without delayed cerebral ischemia were assessed to investigate the relationship between plasma adiponectin concentrations and the occurrence of delayed cerebral ischemia. There were no significant differences in the clinical characteristics of patients with and without delayed cerebral ischemia. The plasma adiponectin concentrations were significantly lower in patients on days 3 and 7 compared with controls. Plasma adiponectin concentrations in patients with delayed cerebral ischemia were significantly lower than in those without delayed cerebral ischemia on days 3, 7, 10, and 14. The present results indicate that low plasma adiponectin concentrations from day 3 to day 14 might be associated with the development of delayed cerebral ischemia.