RESUMEN
Objective: To analyze serum leptin levels in patients with malaria falciparum and compare them with healthy controls and correlate with development and outcome of malaria infection.Methods:healthy individuals of comparable age, racial and body mass index were taken as controls. All patients were diagnosed by clinical picture and the presence of malaria parasites in blood film. Estimation of liver function test, kidney function test, complete blood count, fasting blood sugar, fasting serum insulin, pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 1 (IL1), estimation of morning serum leptin and calculation of body mass index (kg/m2) were done in both groups on the day of admission, on discharge and 7 d after discharge.Results:Sixty cases of malaria falciparum were included in this study as patients. Thirty while fasting serum insulin levels were not significantly different between the two groups. There were significant increases as regard to TNFα and IL1 in malaria patients. Significant differences were observed between the control and the patient group for leptin, TNFα and IL1 at the time of admission and discharge. After discharge for 7 d, a significant decline in serum leptin levels, TNFα and IL1 in the patients group was observed as compared with time of admission and time of discharge, a positive correlation between serum leptin levels and TNFα and IL1. At admission, leptin levels were significantly higher in patients group than in control Conclusions: Leptin hormone level might play an important role in development and outcome of malaria infection.