ASSOCIATION OF SERUM LEPTIN LEVELS WITH BODY MASS INDEX IN PRE-ECLAMPSIA

ABSTRACT
Introduction: Leptin is the product of obesity gene (ob lep), located on chromosome 7 in humans. Plasma leptin
concentration is proportional to the amount of adipose tissue and is markedly increased in obese individuals. It is also
synthesized and secreted by placenta and may contribute to circulating leptin concent-ration during pregnancy. It has
been suggested that increase in BMI is responsible for the increase in maternal levels in pre-e clampsia, in several
studies since adipose tissue is a source of leptin. Present study was conducted to confirm the association between
serum leptin levels and BMI in pre-eclampsia.
Objective: To determine the association between serum leptin levels and body mass index in pre-eclampsia.
Material and Methods: This study was conducted at Gynae Deptt: HMC & LRH, Peshawar for a period of 6 months.
This was a case control study in which sample size was 80 subjects, 40 normal pregnant females and 40 preeclampsia
patients. Serum leptin levels were estimated by Elisa and body mass index was calculated by measuring weight and
height of cases and controls. Cases were further subdivided into two groups Mild & Severe Pre-eclampsia. Inclusion
criteria include all pregnant patients having gestational age more than 20 weeks. Exclusion criteria were twin pregnan-
cies, patients having heart disease or kidney disease and gestational age of less than 20 weeks.
Results: The mean age of cases was 27 years and controls were 24.9 years. Mean period of gestation of both cases
and controls was 35.3 weeks. Mean age at marriage of caseswas 20.0 years and mean at marriage of controls was
21.8 years.Mean leptin levels were 9.57 ng/ml in controls. In mild pre-eclampsia, leptin levels were 25.57 ng/ml and
in severe pre-eclampsia, the levels were 36.47 ng/ml. Mean weight of cases was 74.6 kg and mean weight of controls
was 72.3 kg. Mean BMI of cases was 28.4 kg/m2 and mean BMI of controls was 27.5 kg/m2.Serum leptin levels were
not found to be associated with BMI of normal pregnant & preeclampsia patients. Only weak correlation was found
between serum leptin levels and BMI.
Conclusion: From this comparative study, it is concluded that serum leptin levels are not associated with body mass
index of pre-eclampsia patients.
KEYWORDS: Leptin, Body mass index, Pre-eclampsia, Elisa.