RESUMEN
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the plasma leptin levels in patients with aggressive periodontitis (AgP) and to analyze the relationship between circulating leptin level and periodontal condition.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 97 patients with AgP and 44 healthy controls were recruited. Detailed clinical examinations were conducted and clinical parameters such as bleeding index (BI), probing depth (PD), attachment loss (AL) were recorded. Plasma leptin level was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma leptin level in AgP group was significantly higher than that of control subjects [(20.0 ± 4.3) µg/L vs. (7.5 ± 1.3) µg/L, P < 0.01)]. The plasma leptin level was positively related to BI, PD and AL, and the r values were 0.647, 0.596 and 0.632 respectively (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Plasma leptin concentration in AgP patients was significantly elevated compared with healthy controls. Circulating leptin level was positively related to periodontal parameters including BI, PD and AL.</p>