Distribution of adipocytes, adipocytokines and cardiovascular characteristics in individuals with spinal cord injury

• Grant number: 13/22815-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: December 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Wilson Nadruz Junior
• Grantee: Cristiane Maria de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (FCM). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07607-8 - OCRC - Obesity and Comorbidities Research Center, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Clinical and epidemiological evidences have shown that individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease compared with the general population. In agreement with these data, our group recently demonstrated that subjects with chronic SCI have greater intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid worse left ventricular diastolic function when compared to healthy subjects. With increasing age and time of injury, many patients with SCI have a sedentary lifestyle, which is associated with the development of various diseases (e.g., osteoporosis, upper extremity pain, obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease) resulting in reduced quality of life. Despite the prevalence of obesity is underestimated, it can be present in more than two thirds of individuals with SCI. Fat tissue acts as a secretory organ producing a variety of bioactive substances known as adipokines. The objective of this study is to investigate the involvement of adipokines in healthy subjects and patients with LM sedentary and exercising in a wheelchair, and correlate these data with the carotid intima-media thickness and structural and functional parameters of the left ventricle.