title: Leptin as an important link between obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in men with acute myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The levels of leptin, a major regulator of lipid metabolism, may increase in obesity, and contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome. Leptin is produced by adipose tissue and is a peptide hormone, which has strong association with obesity, elevated cardiovascular risk, and morbidity. The present study was designed to evaluate the relationships between leptin levels, obesity, and cardiovascular risk factors in men with acute myocardial infarction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four obese and twenty-three nonobese male patients, who had experienced their first myocardial infarction, were included in the study. Their leptin levels, biochemical parameters, and anthropometric measures were obtained. Mean leptin levels were significantly higher in the obese group compared to the nonobese group (2.53ng/mL versus 1.23ng/mL; p<0.01). Leptin levels correlated positively with anthropometric measurements, triglyceride, fasting glucose, C-reactive protein, and uric acid levels, and negatively with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings indicate high leptin levels to be positively correlated with obesity and diastolic blood pressure in male patients with myocardial infarction.
authors.affiliation: Medical Doctor, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, 2(nd) Clinic of Internal Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nergis
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ekmen
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, 2(nd) Clinic of Internal Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: aysenhelvaci@superonline.com.
authors.forename: Aysen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Helvaci
authors.affiliation: Medical Doctor, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, 2(nd) Clinic of Internal Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Meral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunaldi
authors.affiliation: Medical Doctor, Egirdir Bone-Joint Diseases Treatment and Rehabilitation Hospital, Department of Radiology, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sasani
authors.affiliation: Medical Doctor, Okmeydani Training and Research Hospital, Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sembol Turkmen
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Yildirmak
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity / Q000639:trends; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin
keywords: Anthropometric measurements; Leptin; Myocardial infarction; Obesity