The relationship between leptin and obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in men with acute myocardial infarction.
BACKGROUND
Leptin, a hormone-like peptide secreted by adipose tissue, is a strong correlate of obesity. Conflicting data exist concerning leptin as an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between leptin and obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in men with acute myocardial infarction.


METHODS
Two groups of patients who had experienced their first acute myocardial infarction were analysed: 40 obese and 40 non-obese men. Waist and hip circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio, C-reactive protein (CRP), uric acid, fasting glucose, lipid profile and leptin were measured.


RESULTS
Mean leptin was significantly higher in obese than in non-obese patients (46.7 ng/ml +/- 18.7 vs. 15.6 ng/ml +/- 11.9; p < 0.01). Leptin levels correlated positively with all anthropometric measurements, fasting glucose, triglyceride levels, CRP and uric acid and negatively with HDL-cholesterol.


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with acute myocardial infarction, obesity is related to increased leptin. The subcutaneous fat compartment seems to be an important determinant of plasma leptin concentration. Leptinemia is associated with several biochemical disorders, suggesting that leptin may be a pathogenetic factor in cardiovascular disease. (Cardiol J 2007; 14: 252-259).
Piestrzeniewicz
Katarzyna
K
Luczak
Katarzyna
K
Komorowski
Jan
J
Maciejewski
Marek
M
Goch
Jan Henryk
JH