title: Role of serum leptin level as a marker of severity of pre eclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To explore the possibility of serum leptin being a marker of severity of pre-eclampsia, so that risk of imminent eclampsia and eclampsia can be reduced.
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational study was conducted at a private hospital of Hyderabad from 31st July to 1st December 2007. Forty primipara with same age, body mass indices and gestational age were included in this study. Twenty women had raised blood pressure in third trimester of pregnancy and 20 women with a normal blood pressure in third trimester of pregnancy. The exclusion criteria included history of diabetes, twin pregnancy, chronic hypertension, liver or renal disease. After counselling and affordability of laboratory testing their blood sample was taken for serum leptin, uric acid, serum creatinine and urine for albumin. The serum leptin level was measured by radio-immunoassay (RIA) kits. All data was filled in a pre-designed proforma after taking detailed history and examination. Statistical analysis was performed on SPSS. Student's t-test was applied where applicable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure between pre-eclamptic and control group showed a marked difference (p < 0.001) ranging from 149.50 +/- 3.44 and 104.40 +/- 3.03 as compared to control 107 +/- 1.56 and 74.50 +/- 1.49 respectively, similarly proteinuria was present in 20 (100%) cases of pre-eclampsia and 07 (35%) of normotensive women. Mean serum leptin level was significantly high in pre-eclampstic (79.380 +/- 3.287), when compared with a control group (27.825 +/- 1.050). Mean serum uric acid in pre-eclamptic (5.040 +/- 0.147) showed significant changes than control (3.600 +/- 0.141), while serum creatinine level was insignificant in both groups. It has been observed that Mean +/- SEM value of serum leptin level was much higher in severe pre-eclamptics (76.418 +/- 5.056) than in women with mild pre-eclampsia (40.856 +/- 2.807). All the parameters correlated positively and significantly with increased blood pressure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated plasma leptin concentration appears to be a marker of pre-eclampsia independently or along with other parameters of pre-eclampsia could be used to reduce the severity of pre-eclampsia thus avoiding risk effects of pre-eclampsia to mother and foetus. This study still needs more research work to prove our results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Liaquat University of Health & Medical Sciences, Jamshoro, Pakistan. drfirdous@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Firdous
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mumtaz
authors.forename: Abdul Razaq
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Sajida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yousfani
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tahir
authors.forename: Imdad
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Khushk
authors.forename: Mumtaz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Amna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Memon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003971:Diastole; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013599:Systole
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin