title: Serum leptin level in the first trimester in ectopic versus normal pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether maternal serum leptin level is different or not in ectopic and normal pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross sectional study, we included 47 women with normal pregnancy (group A), and 47 women with ectopic pregnancy (group B) attending the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Afzalipour Medical Centre, Kerman, Iran from January 2009 to February 2010. Previous history of miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy, body mass index equal to or more than 25 and equal or less than 19 kg/m2, using drugs during pregnancy except for multivitamin and folic acid, unstable conditions requiring emergency laparatomy, and cigarette smoking were considered as exclusion criteria. The maximum gestational age in both groups was 8 weeks. Maternal serum leptin level was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in maternal age, gestational age, and body mass index. Women in group B (median [range]: 30.93 [14.8-84.2]) showed significantly higher serum leptin level in comparison with group A (median [range]: 32.74 [8.4-8.61]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum leptin level in the first trimester of pregnancy may be a useful marker in the differential diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Afzalipour Medical Centre, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman 7616913911, Iran. zkamyabi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kamyabi
authors.forename: Ghazaal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mansouri
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Azizzian
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011271:Pregnancy, Ectopic / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin