The leptin and free leptin levels in plasma and SF were significantly higher in MetS-OA group than those in nMetS-OA group, while the adiponectin levels were lower (All p < 0.01).
Leptin concentrations were significantly higher (p = 0.001) in the obese patients and positively correlated (R = 0.63) with radiologically assessed OA grade, but only in the normal-weight group.
We conducted the present study to evaluate the serum levels of adipokines (leptin, total and high molecular adiponectin, resistin), a marker of cartilage breakdown (C2C), and ghrelin together with body composition in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA).