Objective. To evaluate the association between circulating adiponectin, visfatin, and ghrelin levels and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. We conducted a meta-analysis to compare serum/plasma adiponectin, visfatin, and ghrelin levels in patients with SLE to those of healthy controls. Results. Eleven articles (822 patients with SLE and 676 controls) were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that the adiponectin level was significantly higher in the SLE group than in the control group (standardized mean difference [SMD]=0.360, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.025~0.695, p=0.035). Stratification according to region showed that high adiponectin levels were associated with SLE in the Western population (SMD=0.225, 95% CI=0.024~0.426, p=0.028), but not in the South American population. A subgroup analysis that adiponectin level is significantly higher in the SLE group than in the control after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, large sample size (n>100); and mean age>40 years (SMD=0.492, 95% CI=0.065~0.920, p=0.024; SMD=0.492, 95% CI=0.065~ 0.920, p=0.024; SMD=0.429, 95% CI=0.124~0.733, p=0.006, respectively). Stratification by region showed significantly increased visfatin and ghrelin levels in the SLE group in Western and South American populations. Conclusion. Our meta-analysis demonstrated that circulating adiponectin, visfatin, and ghrelin levels are significantly higher in SLE.

Keywords: Adiponectin, Visfatin, Ghrelin, Systemic lupus erythematosus