Do serum leptin levels have a role in the prediction of pregnancy outcome in case of threatened miscarriage?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether maternal serum leptin levels can predict pregnancy outcome in cases of threatened miscarriage.


METHODS
Observational study.


METHODS
Fifty-seven women with normal pregnancy (group A), 19 women with threatened miscarriage who delivered at term (group B), 22 women with threatened miscarriage with subsequent miscarriage (group C) and 27 women with delayed miscarriage (group D).


METHODS
Maternal serum leptin was determined using a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit.


RESULTS
Serum leptin levels were not significantly different among groups A, B and C [median (range) 17.6 (10.1-26.5), 18.2 (12.5-25.6) and 17.3 (11.2-27.6) microg/l, respectively]. Women in group D showed significantly lower serum leptin levels in comparison with other groups [14 (6.7-21.3) microg/l; P < 0.05].


CONCLUSIONS
Serum leptin levels in the first trimester of pregnancy may not be the primary indicator of miscarriage in cases of threatened abortion.
Tommaselli
Giovanni A
GA
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy. gtommaselli@yahoo.it
Di Spiezio Sardo
Attilio
A
Di Carlo
Costantino
C
Bifulco
Giuseppe
G
Cerrota
Giuseppe
G
Cirillo
Domenico
D
Greco
Elena
E
Nappi
Carmine
C
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000097:blood; D000033:Abortion, Threatened / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin