Serum leptin in children with bronchial asthma

ABSTRACT

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways. Steroids as inhaled and systemic forms are used as a line for controlling moderate and severe forms of bronchial asthma. Leptin is a 16 kd protein produced predominantly in white adipose tissue. its major role in body weight regulation is to signal satiety to the hypothalamus. Most humans who are obese are not leptin-deficient but rather leptin-resistant and, thus, have elevated circulating leptin levels. in the present study, serum leptin level has been studied in 40 patients; 10 patients with bronchial asthma receiving systemic steroids, 10 patients with bronchial asthma receiving inhaled steroids, 10 patients with bronchial asthma not receiving steroids and 10 obese non asthmatic patients to uncover the effects of different types of steroid therapy on leptin level. Increased serum level of leptin was observed in patients with bronchial asthma receiving systemic steroids and obese non asthmatic patients when compared with the control group. Whereas, no significant increase in serum leptin level as regards patients with bronchial asthma receiving inhaled steroids or those not receiving steroids when compared with control group. Serum leptin level in bronchial asthma patients receiving systemic steroids was significantly increased more than those receiving inhaled steroids and those not receiving steroids. This increased leptin level was positively correlated with body mass index [BMI], fasting blood glucose, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and serum cortisol level suggesting the strong relation between leptin and degree of steroid changes and obesity in patients with and without bronchial asthma. This elevated leptin can be explained by the effect of systemic steroids and simple obesity on leptin level and we can conclude that inhaled steroids have no effect on serum leptin level and so on body fat store