Endocrine Abstracts

Adiponectin is a soluble protein produced solely by matured adipocytes. Adipogenesis contributes to the pathogenesis of GO in many ways including a direct effect on proptosis due to increased volume of mature adipocytes.

The aim of the study was to estimate an influence of immunosupresive and anti-inflammatory treatment using systemic corticotherapy combined with orbital radiotherapy on serum adiponectin level in GO patients. The study was accepted by Ethical Commitee.

Material consisted of eight previously untreated euthyroid women aged 53.62±4.89 yrs. Corticotherapy was aplicated once a week, intravenously following a protocol: methylprednisolone in a dose of 0.5 g for the first 6 weeks, therafter the dose was reduced to 0.25 g for another 6 weeks, and from the third week was combined with weekly orbital irradiation (2 Gy) over 10 weeks.

Clinical examination with estimation of clinical activity score (CAS), proptosis, ophthalmopathy index (OI), BMI as well as blood sampling for adiponectin estimation were performed before therapy, after second methylprednisolone injection and after last orbital irradiation. Adiponectin was measured using RIA kits (Linco Research). Treatment resulted with significant clinical improvement and decrease in CAS of 3 points (P<0.01), reduction of proptosis >2 mm (P<0.01) and OI from 6.5 points±1.19 to 4.0±0.53 (P<0.01). BMI did not change during the study (mean 26.64±3.90 kg/m² vs. 26.43±3.37 kg/m²). Serum levels of adiponectin were in normal range in all patients: before therapy mean 16.10±6.10 mcg/ml, during therapy mean 16.42±6.03 mcg/ml and after therapy mean 17.08±7.48 mcg/ml.

No significances were observed in adiponectin concentration during the treatment in all subjects.

Our results may suggest that changes in proptosis in GO patients during anti-inflammatory and immunosupressive therapy are not associated with any significant changes in serum adiponectin level.