Leptin concentration during different stages of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the levels of leptin in pregnant females during different stages of pregnancy and to correlate these levels to maternal weight, body mass index (BMI), neonate weight and neonate BMI.


METHODS
A case control study was carried out in which 60 pregnant females were enrolled, but only 36 completed the study and 30 non-pregnant females were used as controls. Blood samples were collected at the 1st trimester, 2nd trimester and 3rd trimester, and after delivery. Serum was used for the estimation of leptin (by radioimmunoassay).


RESULTS
The results showed that the levels of leptin were significantly higher in pregnant females compared to non-pregnant females, but significantly decreased after delivery. In pregnant females with gestational diabetes the leptin level was insignificantly higher.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase of leptin levels may be due to the stimulatory effect of insulin on leptin secretion from adipose tissue.
Atawi
F Al
FA
College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
Warsy
A S
AS
Babay
Z
Z
Addar
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D009929:Organ Size; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000097:blood*
D020738:Leptin