Serum leptin levels in twins and singleton newborns.
OBJECTIVE
Leptin is produced by the human placenta besides adipose tissue and is suggested to be related to fetal growth. In order to find out whether multiple pregnancy is a factor affecting serum leptin levels, we compared neonatal serum leptin concentrations of twins and singleton newborns who were all appropriate for gestational age (AGA).


METHODS
Thirty newborns were studied. Group 1 consisted of 15 infants from twin pregnancies and group 2 (control group) consisted of 15 infants from singleton pregnancies. Serum samples were taken at 24 hours following delivery and leptin concentrations were measured.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in birth weight, gestational age and male/female ratio between infants of twin and single gestations. However, serum leptin concentrations of twins (mean +/- SEM: 1.13 +/- 0.35 ng/ml) were significantly lower than of the singleton infants (4.27 +/- 0.63 ng/ml) (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Twin pregnancy might be a factor affecting serum leptin concentrations in newborn infants.
Onal
E Esra
EE
Department of Neonatology, Gazi University Medical School, Turkey. esra_onal@hotmail.com
Uysal
Füsun Kitapçi
FK
Cinaz
Peyami
P
Bideci
Aysun
A
Dilmen
Uğur
U
D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000502:physiology*
D020738:Leptin