Aim Human resistin is an adipokine, with a possible link to coronary heart disease, and the relationship between serum resistin, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains controversial. Therefore, this study assessed serum resistin in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), with and without T2DM.

Methods Between June 2009 and July 2010, 55 subjects were recruited into three groups: 20 non-diabetic patients with acute STEMI (group 1), 20 diabetic patients with acute STEMI (group 2), and 15 healthy controls (group 3). Concentrations of serum lipids, fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin, troponin I, creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and resistin, were estimated.

Results Concentrations of serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, FBG, troponin I, CK, LDH, and resistin were significantly higher in group 2 subjects, than in those in groups 1 and 3 (p<0.05). In group 2, serum resistin was positively correlated with serum troponin I and triglycerides (r=0.59, p<0.05, and r=0.47, p<0.05, respectively), but was negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol (r=−0.46, p<0.05). However, in this group, serum resistin was not correlated with age, gender, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, FBG, insulin, CK, LDH, and the calculated homeostasis model for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p>0.05). Regarding group 1, serum resistin was not correlated to any of these studied parameters (p>0.05).

Conclusions Serum resistin concentrations are elevated in patients with acute STEMI. This increase is more prominent in patients with T2DM than in those without. However, serum resistin is not correlated with age, gender, BMI, and insulin resistance. These data suggest that serum resistin concentration might be used as a diagnostic biomarker for acute STEMI.