title: Leptin Receptor Gene Polymorphism may Affect Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Patients with Acromegaly.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acromegaly is associated with increased morbidity and mortality related to cardiovascular diseases. Leptin (LEP) and Leptin Receptor (LEPR) gene polymorphisms can increase cardiovascular risks. The aim of this study was to investigate association between the frequencies of LEP and LEPR gene polymorphisms and subclinical atherosclerosis in acromegalic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four acromegalic patients and 30 controls were admitted to study. The polymorphisms were identified by using polymerase chain reaction from peripheral blood samples. The levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, BMI, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, IGF-I, GH, IGFBP3, leptin, triglyceride, carotid Intima Media Thickness (cIMT) and HDL and LDL cholesterol concentrations were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was statistically significant difference between the LEPR genotypes of acromegalic patients (GG 11.4%, GA 52.3%, and AA 36.4%) and controls (GG 33.3%, GA 50%, and AA 16.7%) although their LEP genotype distribution was similar. In addition, the prevalence of the LEPR gene G and A alleles was significantly different between patients and controls. No significant difference was found among the G(-2548) A leptin genotypes of groups in terms of the clinical parameters. cIMT significantly increased homozygote LEPR GG genotype group compared to AA subjects in patients. But the other parameters were not different between LEPR genotypes groups of patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It can be said that the LEPR gene polymorphism may affect cIMT in patients. The reason is that LEPR GG genotype carriers may have more risk than other genotypes in the development of subclinical atherosclerosis in acromegaly.
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey.
authors: Sebahat
authors: S
authors: Turgut
authors: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey.
authors: Senay
authors: S
authors: Topsakal
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey.
authors: Melek Tunç
authors: MT
authors: Ata
authors: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey.
authors: Duygu
authors: D
authors: Herek
authors: Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey.
authors: Fulya
authors: F
authors: Akın
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey.
authors: Şeyma
authors: Ş
authors: Özkan
authors: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pamukkale, Denizli, Turkey.
authors: Günfer
authors: G
authors: Turgut
keywords: Acromegaly; Leptin; Polymorphism