title: Pregnancy in a woman with congenital generalized lipodystrophy: leptin's vital role in reproduction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Congenital generalized lipodystrophy is a rare disorder characterized by scant adipose tissue, profound leptin deficiency, and severe insulin resistance, resulting in multiple metabolic derangements, including hyperandrogenism, anovulation, and impaired fecundity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A young woman with congenital generalized lipodystrophy receiving leptin therapy experienced menarche, conceived spontaneously, and delivered a liveborn male neonate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adipose tissue is important to normal female reproductive function. Leptin in particular appears to play a key role in adipose-mediated regulation of fertility.
authors.affiliation: From the Program in Reproductive and Adult Endocrinology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, and the Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: Marcy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maguire
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lungu
authors.forename: Phillip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gorden
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cochran
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stratton
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020738:Leptin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008060:Lipodystrophy / Q000097:blood / Q000151:congenital / Q000188:drug therapy*; D050498:Live Birth; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin