Alterations of maternal and fetal leptin concentrations in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether hypertensive disorders of pregnancy alter the maternal and fetal leptin levels.


METHODS
Fifty primigravidas between 28 and 34 weeks of gestation were divided into three groups: group A consisted of 17 normal pregnant women with a mean gestational age of 31 weeks, group B consisted of 15 women with gestational hypertension without proteinuria with a mean gestational age of 30 weeks and group C consisted of 18 pre-eclamptic women with a mean gestational age of 31 weeks.


RESULTS
The pre-eclamptics had significantly higher serum leptin levels than those in normal pregnancies (p<0.001) but no difference was noted between normal and gestational hypertensive pregnancies. Pre-eclamptic women had significantly higher umbilical vein leptin levels (4.68+/-1.66ng/ml) compared to normal pregnancies (1.92+/-0.71ng/ml) and those with gestational hypertension (2.47+/-0.81ng/ml).


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-eclampsia is associated with an increase in maternal plasma leptin levels and fetal of leptin production increases in gestational hypertension and even more in pre-eclampsia.
Vitoratos
N
N
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, 76, Vas. Sophias Av., 115 28, Athens, Greece.
Chrystodoulacos
G
G
Kouskouni
E
E
Salamalekis
E
E
Creatsas
G
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values
D020738:Leptin