ABSTRACT
Plasma leptin in relation to other hormones [cortisol and insulin] was studied in 50 women [26 on corticosteroid therapy and 24 with simple obesity] in addition to 10 healthy lean age matched females served as controls. Plasma leptin levels were significantly higher in both corticosteroid treated patients and those with simple obesity compared with the controls. Plasma leptin levels were significantly correlated with body mass index [BMI], serum levels of cortisol and insulin. Patients treated with corticosteroids showed a higher mean value of plasma leptin levels than those with simple obesity in spite of the higher BMI in the latter group. Also, the group of patients who received prednisone therapy in a dose of >/20 mg/day showed significantly higher leptin levels than the group receiving lower doses of prednisone [<20 mg/day] in spite of the higher BMI in the latter group