INTRODUCTION. Obesity is an important public health problem. Its prevalence has been steadily increasing during recent years, especially in industrialised societies. In many patients obesity is accompanied by other diseases and metabolic disorders forming metabolic syndrome. There are more and more evidences that metabolic syndrome lead to an inflammatory state which is probably responsible for the initiation and progression of atherogenesis in these groups of patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate certain markers of inflammatory reaction in obese patients with metabolic syndrome.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. The study group comprised 38 obese patients with metabolic syndrome definable according to ATP III. The control group consisted of 12 healthy volunteers. Serum concentration of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type 2 (sTNFR2), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) were assessed. All patients underwent antropometric measurements. Fat content was evaluated using bioimpedance method.
RESULTS. Higher concentrations of sTNFR2 and sICAM-1 were observed in the study group when compared to the control group. The obese hypertensives with dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus presented higher concentrations of the studied cytokines than the obese non-diabetic hypertensives with dyslipidemia. In the study group positive correlations between sTNFR2 and %FAT was proven.
CONCLUSIONS. 1. Obesity in metabolic syndrome is associated with aggravation of an inflammatory process. 2. Diabetes mellitus is an important factor contributing to aggravation of an inflammatory reaction 3. Chronic inflammation should be considered as an important factor in development of atherogenesis in patients with metabolic syndrome.