NEW BIOMARKERS TO PREDICT CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH ADRENAL INCIDENTALOMA; IRISIN AND NESFATIN-1

Objective. In our study, we aimed to investigate the levels of irisin, nesfatin-1 and the relationship between levels of these relatively new molecules with cardiometabolic risk markers; carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness in patients with nonfunctional adrenal incidentaloma (NFAI). Materials and Methods. Patients with NFAI (n=59) and age, sex and body mass index-matched healthy control subjects (n=59) were enrolled in this study. Serum glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), lipid, irisin and nesfatin-1 levels and echocardiographic CIMT and EAT thickness measurements were performed in patients and controls. Results. The irisin level was 17.58 +/- 4.38 pg/mL in the NFAI group, significantly higher (p<0.001) than 14.03 +/- 4.03 pg/mL in the control group. Nesfatin-1 level was significantly lower in the NFAI group 194.98 +/- 119.15 pg/mL ((p < 0.001)) versus 303.48 +/- 200.78 pg/mL in the control group. A positive correlation was found between irisin and nesfatin-1 levels and CIMT and EAT thickness in the NFAI group. Conclusions. In our study, we found that irisin level was higher and nesfatin-1 level was lower in patients with NFAI, and both irisin and nesfatin-1 levels were associated with CIMT and EAT thickness in NFAI patients.