A Study of Association of Plasma Procalcitonin with Various Components of Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance.

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases and Type 2 diabetes mellitus. The aim was to study the association of plasma procalcitonin with various components of metabolic syndrome (abdominal obsesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and hyperglycemia) and insulin resistance and compare with healthy controls. In addition, we tried to gauge the association of plasma procalcitonin with complications of metabolic syndrome at presentation.

MATERIAL: This was a hospital based observational comparative study on 30 cases of metabolic syndrome in hospital wards and OPD of SMS Medical College, Jaipur and 30 accompanying healthy controls.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Age more than 18 years, and newly diagnosed or old cases of metabolic syndrome using the definition given by International Diabetes Federation (2006).

EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Individuals with active infection, trauma, surgery, neoplasms, cirrhosis, pancreatitis and autoimmune diseases or taking medications which can alter the biochemical profile. Detailed history was taken, subjects clinically examined and anthropometric measurements were taken. Required investigations were obtained and statistical analysis done.

OBSERVATION: Plasma procalcitonin was significantly higher in cases (mean 0.11 ng/ml) compared to controls (mean 0.002 ng/ml). Waist and neck circumference (102.87±5.19 and 42.03±3.08) values were higher in case group compared to control group (79.67 ±7.98 and 37.10±1.35). Plasma procalcitonin significantly (p<0.05) correlated with level of insulin resistance (HOMA IR), waist circumference, neck circumference, S. Triglycerides, S. VLDL, fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin level in the case group when analyzed by linear regression analysis. We also found that out of 30 subjects in cases, 16.7% had history of MI, whereas in control group no subject was reported with MI. In case of history of CVA, 16.7% had CVA in case group, whereas in control group, no patient was reported with CVA., Conclusion: Our findings based on community-based data showed that higher plasma procalcitonin levels in the normal range are associated with increased measures of obesity, components of the metabolic syndrome, and greater risk of having metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance. Because associations only partly depend on BMI, plasma procalcitonin may serve as a new marker for adipocyte dysfunction, chronic low-grade inflammation, or both.