Increased leptin concentration in preterm infants of pre-eclamptic mothers.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of maternal pre-eclampsia on cord plasma leptin concentrations in preterm infants.


METHODS
Leptin concentration was analysed in cord plasma of 74 preterm infants, gestational age 24 to 32 weeks. Of these, 14 were born to pre-eclamptic mothers, in 10 intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) was present, and 59 had been exposed antenatally to corticosteroids.


RESULTS
The mean (SD) concentration of cord plasma leptin was 1.31 (0.88) microg/l. A significant correlation was found between leptin concentration and gestational age (r = 0.336; p = 0.0037). Leptin levels were higher in infants of pre-eclamptic mothers (p = 0.0007), in those with IUGR (p = 0.0005), and in infants exposed antenatally to corticosteroids (p = 0.02). In multiple regression analysis, leptin was associated with gestational age and maternal pre-eclampsia (both p < 0.05), but not with antenatal corticosteroids.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased fetal leptin in maternal pre-eclampsia may reflect a physiological adaptation to fetal stress such as hypoxia.
Hytinantti
T
T
Helsinki City Maternity Hospital, Sofianlehdonkatu 5, SF-00610 Helsinki, Finland.
Koistinen
H A
HA
Koivisto
V A
VA
Karonen
S L
SL
Rutanen
E M
EM
Andersson
S
S
D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy
D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020738:Leptin