Procalcitonin, an Independent Marker of Abdominal Fat Accumulation in Obese Patients

Background: Circulating procalcitonin (PCT) is an inflammatory marker produced by several cell types including adipose tissue following cytokine stimulation. A low-grade inflammation is well recognized in obese patients with insulin resistance but data on PCT levels in obese patients remain scarce. The aim of our study was to evaluate the link between plasma PCT concentration and metabolic parameters of obesity. Methods: Measurements of biological parameters and total body scan using dual-energy x-ray were performed in all non-diabetic adult patients with a body mass index >= 30 kg/m(2) hospitalized for metabolic and physical assessment of their obesity since January 2010. Results: Elevated plasma PCT levels of the 295 patients included were associated with degree of obesity (OR = 2.76 [1.26 - 6.03] class III vs. class I obesity), waist circumference (OR = 4.20 [1.98 - 8.92], highest vs. lowest tercile), and trunk-to-total fat ratio (OR = 6.75 [2.12 - 21.4], highest vs. lowest tercile). Interestingly, no significant association between the highest PCT levels and hsCRP (OR = 1.33 [0.68 - 2.26]) or IR (OR = 1.26 [0.67 - 2.37]) was found. Conclusions: Our results showed that plasma PCT levels were independently associated with central adiposity assessed by clinical and imaging assessment, but not with insulin resistance in obese patients.