RESUMEN
Obesity in humans causes hypertension, myocardial hypertrophy and coronary atherosclerosis, and increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality that is thought to be related to sympathetic overactivity. Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone that acts in the hypothalamus to regulate appetite, energy expenditure and sympathetic nervous system outflow. One of the major mechanisms leading to the development of obesity-induced hypertension appears to be leptin-mediatedsympatho-activation. This study is done to evaluate the contribution of leptin in the development of obesity related hypertension in post menopausal women. A total number of 64 subjects [post menopausal women] included in the study were divided into obese hypertensive group [n= 38] and non obese non hypertensive group [n=26], age [57 +/- 4.5year] and [56 +/- 2.7year] respectively [mean +/- SD]. Obese hypertensive group defined as [BMI >/= 30 kg/m[2] and blood pressure >/= 140/90 mmHg with or without history of taking anti hypertensive medications and Non-obese non hypertensive group defined as [BMI < 30 kg/m[2]- blood pressure < 140/90 mmHg].In the present study leptin had been measured. Leptin level is higher in obese hypertensive group than in non obese non hypertensive group and it was 29.2 +/- 4 and 15.2 +/- 2.1[mean +/- SD] respectively and this difference is statistically significant with p value < 0.001. leptin may play a role in the development of obesity- related hypertension and may be an independent predictor of hypertension