Maternal serum leptin in pregnancy induced hypertension

ABSTRACT

To investigate maternal serum leptin levels in pregnancy induced hypertension, subdivided into preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, compared with uncomplicated pregnancies. A prospective observational case-control study. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Kasr El-Aini Hospital, Cairo University. Forty cases in the third trimester of pregnancy with either preeclampsia [n=20] or gestational hypertension [n=20] and 20 normotensive pregnant controls. The control and study groups were matched for maternal age [ +/- two years], pre-pregnancy body mass index [ +/- 10%] and gestational age [ +/- one week]. Fasting blood samples were collected from cases and controls. Glucose was measured using the glucose oxidase method and leptin was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]. Glucose and leptin levels were compared based on serological data. The demographic and clinical characteristics, which might influence leptin levels, were comparable [p>0.05]. The mean glucose levels were not significantly different in the control and study groups [p>0.05]. However, mean leptin levels were significantly higher in the women with preeclampsia compared with the normotensive group [16.9 +/- 7.0ng/mL vs. 9.8 +/- 4.8ng/mL, p=0.001]. Similarly, mean leptin levels were significantly higher in the women with gestational hypertension compared with their normotensive counterparts [15.1 +/- 5.9ng/mL vs. 9.8 +/- 4.8ng/mL, P=0.003]. Preeclampsia and gestational hypertension ire is associated with elevated maternal serum leptin. Leptin may play a role in the pathogenesis of these disorders. Further longitudinal studies are recommended to investigate the possible value of leptin as a second trimester predictor of pregnancy induced hypertension