Leptin and leptin-binding activity in women with recurrent miscarriage: correlation with pregnancy outcome.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies in humans and mice have suggested the importance of leptin in fetal growth. Recurrent miscarriage may be a result of abnormal placental and/or fetal development and therefore abnormal leptin levels may be associated with this form of pregnancy loss.


METHODS
Leptin and leptin-binding activity (LBA) were measured in blood obtained from women who had a history of recurrent miscarriage (n = 53) during weeks 5-6 and 7-8 of pregnancy, and the concentrations were correlated with subsequent pregnancy outcome.


RESULTS
Concentrations of leptin ranged from 1.4-62.8 ng/ml, but there was a strong correlation (r = 0.825, P < 0.001) between leptin values at weeks 5-6 and 7-8 in the same woman. Women who subsequently miscarried had significantly lower plasma leptin concentrations on both weeks 5-6 (13.34 +/- 2.1 ng/ml) (P < 0.05) and 7-8 (13.71 +/- 2.4 ng/ml) (P < 0.01) of pregnancy, than women who subsequently had a term birth (22.04 +/- 2.43 ng/ml week 5-6, 24.76 +/- 3.66 ng/ml week 7-8). LBA values ranged from 1-8.5% but there was no significant difference in LBA in blood obtained from women who subsequently miscarried or had a live birth.


CONCLUSIONS
The significantly lower concentrations of leptin in women who subsequently miscarried suggest that leptin may play a role in preventing miscarriage. However, as there was a considerable overlap between the values of leptin in women who subsequently miscarried, and those that had a live birth, these measurements are of limited use in the prediction of pregnancy outcome in these women.
Laird
S M
SM
Division of Biomedical Sciences/Biomedical Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK. s.m.laird@shu.ac.uk
Quinton
N D
ND
Anstie
B
B
Li
T C
TC
Blakemore
A I
AI
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood*; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin
D002352:Carrier Proteins; C515448:LEPR protein, human; D020738:Leptin; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin