Serum leptin levels in asthmatic children treated with an inhaled corticosteroid.
BACKGROUND
Recent observations suggest the presence of an interaction between leptin and the inflammatory system; however, there is no adequate knowledge about the role of leptin in atopic states such as asthma.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the potential role of leptin in relation to bronchial asthma and inhaled corticosteroid therapy.


METHODS
Twenty-three children with mild-to-moderate, newly diagnosed asthma enrolled in this 2-period trial. The control group consisted of 20 age- and sex-matched children. Serum leptin levels were measured in patients at initiation and after 4 weeks of budesonide treatment and were compared with control group measurements.


RESULTS
Asthmatic children had higher mean +/- SD serum leptin levels at admission (19.3 +/- 5.1 ng/mL) than after budesonide treatment (10.6 +/- 1.6 ng/mL) and vs control group measurements (9.8 +/- 1.6 ng/mL) (P < .001). There was a significant correlation between serum leptin levels before and after budesonide treatment (r = 0.68; P = .007). Mean +/- SD body mass indices in patients and controls were 16.7 +/- 2.1 and 16.9 +/- 2.6 kg/m2, respectively. Serum leptin levels did not correlate with body mass indices before budesonide treatment in the study group (r = -0.13; P = .65) but correlated well after budesonide treatment (r = 0.58; P = .009) and in the control group (r = 0.65; P = .008).


CONCLUSIONS
The role of leptin elevation in children with asthma might be a regulatory mechanism rather than being etiologic, but a question may be raised whether it is possible that leptin may contribute to poor patient outcomes. Further research, both basic and clinical, is essential to explain the exact mechanism.
Department of Pediatrics, Dicle University Hospital, Medical Faculty, Diyarbakir, Turkey. fuatgurkan@hotmail.com
Fuat
F
Gurkan
Yildiz
Y
Atamer
Aydin
A
Ece
Yuksel
Y
Kocyigit
Heybet
H
Tuzun
Nuriye
N
Mete
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015992:Body Mass Index; D019819:Budesonide / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018927:Anti-Asthmatic Agents; D020738:Leptin; D019819:Budesonide