The relation of serum leptin to body mass index and to serum cortisol in men with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relations among serum leptin, body mass index (BMI), and various hormone levels in men with spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
University hospital that is a tertiary referral center.


METHODS
Forty-seven men with traumatic neurologically complete SCI and 47 age- and BMI-matched male controls.


METHODS
Baseline levels of various hormones were measured in subjects with SCI. Serum leptin and cortisol levels and BMI were measured in both groups.


RESULTS
Serum leptin was significantly higher in the group with SCI than in the control group. A linear relation was found between serum leptin and BMI in both groups separately. A polynomial relation was found between serum leptin level and BMI in the group with SCI. A "J" phenomenon is noted at the lowest BMI. Serum cortisol correlated significantly with serum leptin level in the group with SCI.


CONCLUSIONS
Sympathetic denervation, peripheral nerve palsy, recurrent infections, and possible central neurotransmitter alterations after SCI may contribute to the elevation of serum leptin level in men with SCI.
Huang
T S
TS
Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei. huang@ha.mc.ntu.edu.tw
Wang
Y H
YH
Chen
S Y
SY
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013624:Taiwan
D006728:Hormones; D020738:Leptin; D006854:Hydrocortisone