Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Uterine leiomyomas are important, common pathological conditions that impose a major healthcare burden. Leptin, a product of the obese (Ob) gene, is produced predominantly in adipose tissue and expressed in several tissues and organs and in myomas and the surrounding myometrium.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess serum leptin levels in women with and without uterine leiomyomas.
METHODS:
This prospective case- control study was carried out on ninety women in their reproductive age. They were divided into two groups; the study group consisted of 45 women with uterine leiomyomas proved by histopathology after operation, and a control group consisting of 45 healthy women without uterine leiomyomas proved by ultrasound examination. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated in all women. Blood samples were collected from all women in both groups in the proliferative phase of their menstrual cycle. Hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine, fasting blood sugar and serum leptin levels were examined. Serum leptin levels were determined by Radioimmunoassay and compared in myomatic and normal women.
RESULTS:
The mean serum leptin levels were significantly lower (p=0.0001) in the myomatic women (7.57± 2.88 ng/mL) than in the normal women (9.56± 1.77 ng/mL). The mean ratios of serum leptin levels / body mass index in the myomatic women (0.267± 0.09) were significantly lower (p=0.0001) than in the normal women (0.34±0.05). In addition, a significant correlation was found between serum leptin levels and body mass index in both the myomatic women (r=0.587, p=0.0001) and the normal women (r=0.608, p=0.0001).
CONCLUSION:
In myomatic women compared to normal women, the lower serum leptin levels observed were independent of body mass index with no significant up-regulation of leptin production in response to increased adiposity.
KEY WORDS: leptin levels, uterine leiomyomas