title: Serum leptin level in women with unexplained infertility.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare serum levels of leptin in women with unexplained infertility with fertile subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum leptin levels of 27 infertile and 30 fertile women on day 3 of the menstrual cycle were assessed and compared in this prospective age and body mass index (BMI) comparable controlled study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age in the infertile group was 29.3 (range, 23-38), while this figure was 28.9 (range, 19-39) in the fertile group; the mean BMIs were 24.5 (range, 20.6-27.8) and 25.0 (range, 21.8-28.7), respectively. The mean serum leptin level was significantly higher in women with unexplained infertility compared with fertile subjects. Considering normal weight subjects, mean serum leptin levels were increased significantly in the unexplained infertile group compared with the fertile group (7.2 (range, 4.3-10.4) versus 3.5 (range, 1.9-6.2)ng/ml, respectively; p<0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test). The significant increase in serum leptin levels was observed also in overweight patients (6.8 (range, 1.3-5.2) versus 3.3 (range, 4.2-8.9)ng/ml, respectively; p<0.0001, Mann-Whitney U-test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significant difference in serum leptin levels between unexplained infertile and fertile women suggests that this cytokine may be involved in pathophysiology of unexplained infertility.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic, Health Ministry Ergani Goverment Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Demir
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: Emie Seda Guvendag
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Guven
authors.forename: Yildiz
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Atamer
authors.forename: G Serdar
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Gunalp
authors.forename: Talip
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008597:Menstrual Cycle; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin