Nevertheless, when samples from patients with high bilirubin were removed from the analysis, the elevation in adiponectin levels in PDAC cases with and without DM, compared to those with LSDM and NOD remained significant (ranging from p=0.009 to p=0.0004), indicating that adiponectin levels discriminate between PDAC and DM independently of obstructive jaundice. This evidence concerns the gene ADIPOQ and diabetes mellitus.