[Preliminary investigation of effect of serum leptin on nutritional state of COPD patients].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the significance of serum leptin and TNF-alpha in malnutrition of COPD.


METHODS
Serum leptin and TNF-alpha concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Body mass index (BMI), percent normal body weight (NW%), triceps skin-fold thickness (TSF), subscapular skin-fold thickness (SSF), mid-upper arm circumference (MAC), serum albumin (ALB) and total lymphocytes count (LYM) were determined in 31 patients with COPD and in 11 healthy controls. The correlation between leptin and nutritional parameters was analysed.


RESULTS
(1) Serum leptin concentrations (3.0 +/- 2.5) micrograms/L in 42 subjects were significantly correlated with BMI, NW%, TSF, SSF and MAC (P < 0.001). (2) Serum leptin concentrations were significantly correlated with BMI in both malnourished patients with COPD and non-malnourished patients (P < 0.05-0.001). The leptin level was significantly lower in malnourished group (1.3 +/- 1.0) micrograms/L than in non-malnourished group (4.5 +/- 2.6) micrograms/L, (P < 0.05). The differences in serum leptin level and BMI between non-malnourished group and healthy group were not significant. (3) Serum TNF-alpha level was significantly higher in COPD group (1.8 +/- 0.3) micrograms/L than in healthy group (1.0 +/- 0.5) microgram/L (P < 0.05). Serum leptin levels didn't significantly correlate with TNF-alpha levels in COPD patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum leptin levels correlate with nutritional parameters in COPD patients and leptin may contribute to the malnutrition in COPD patients.
Yuan
Y
Y
Department of Respiratory Disease, First Affiliated Hospital, West China University of Medical Sciences, Chengdu 610041, China.
Wang
Z
Z
Liu
C
C
D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009752:Nutritional Status; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D012885:Skinfold Thickness
D020738:Leptin; D012709:Serum Albumin