A Study on the Leptin Concentrations in Maternal and Cord Blood.

Lee, Hee Joong; Kim, Gi Hong; Rhu, Sang Woo; Park, Dong Choon; Kim, Jae Hoon; Kwon, Dong Jin; Kim, Sa Jin; Lew, Young Ok; Kim, Dae Hoon

Original Article

Korean Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology 2004;47(1):5-9.
Published online January 1, 2004.

A Study on the Leptin Concentrations in Maternal and Cord Blood.

Hee Joong Lee, Gi Hong Kim, Sang Woo Rhu, Dong Choon Park, Jae Hoon Kim, Dong Jin Kwon, Sa Jin Kim, Young Ok Lew, Dae Hoon Kim

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Saint Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
In this study, We investigated the circulating level of leptin in the maternal and cord serum to estimate the effect of leptin on the fetal growth. METHODS: In full-term pregnancy, right after delivery, we calculated the concentration of leptin in the maternal and cord serum by using an immunoassay. we studied the relation between these value, the maternal BMI at the time of delivery, the neonatal body weight. RESULTS: At the time of delivery, mean concentration of maternal leptin and cord leptin showed 335.7 pg/ml and 118.3 pg/ml and there was no statistical significance between them. Mean concentration of matenal leptin has positive relation with maternal body weight. but not to neonatal weight. Mean concentration of cord serum leptin has a positive relation with neonatal weight. There was a correlation between the maternal BMI and the neonatal weight at the time of delivery. We evaluated the mean leptin level of neonates of two different sexes, that difference did not show a statistically significant level. CONCLUSION: In this study, no correlation was found between concentration of maternal leptin and cord leptin. These data suggested that the cord serum leptin has a positive relation with fetal growth independantly, regardless of maternal leptin and maternal BMI.

Key Words: Leptin, Maternal serum, Cord blood