title: Severe disability in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis is associated with profound changes in the regulation of leptin secretion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Experimental evidences indicate that leptin is involved in the neuroinflammatory process sustaining multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the relationship between leptin and body fat, as assessed by body mass index (BMI), in MS was not previously evaluated. It was the aim of this study to compare serum leptin levels between patients with MS and healthy controls and to evaluate the possible relationship between circulating leptin levels and disease severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-four MS patients and 57 sex-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled. Serum leptin levels were measured in all patients and controls. MS patients were stratified in 3 groups according to their degree of disability as assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Patients were classified as having low (33 patients with an EDSS score <1.5), intermediate (28 patients with an EDSS score from 2 to 3) and high disability (23 patients with an EDSS score ≥3.5).
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in serum leptin levels and BMI were observed between patients and controls. In patients with MS, serum leptin levels were significantly correlated with BMI in those patients with low (R(2) = 0.363; p < 0.001) and intermediate disability (R(2) = 0.408; p < 0.001), but not in patients with a higher disability score (R(2) = 0.064; p = 0.256).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMI, the major determinant of leptin level in physiological conditions, has a minor role in determining the serum levels of leptin in MS patients with a high EDSS score. Future longitudinal studies will be required in order to provide further insights into the regulation of leptin secretion in patients with MS.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Endocrine Disruptors and Chair of Endocrinology, Unit of Internal Medicine and Endocrinology, Fondazione Salvatore Maugeri IRCCS, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rotondi
authors.forename: Anna Paola
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Batocchi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coperchini
authors.forename: Marcella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caggiula
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zerbini
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sideri
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leporati
authors.forename: Viviana
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nociti
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Frisullo
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mirabella
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Magri
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oliviero
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiovato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020529:Multiple Sclerosis, Relapsing-Remitting / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin