A study on circulating blood level of leptin during normal pregnancy and preeclampsia

A total number of 70 women in the reproductive age participated in the study. They were divided into three main groups non pregnant, normal pregnant which was divided into four subgroups (1st, 2nd, 3rd trimester and 12h postpartum groups) and preeclamptic group which was divided into mild and severe preeclamptic groups. Venous blood samples collected.Serum leptin, estradiol and hCG were estimated.It revealed that leptin levels in normal pregnant were higher than in non pregnant. Serum levels in the 1st trimester were higher than the non pregnant level. In the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, lepin levels further increased to reach higher levels than the 1st trimester. However, leptin levels showed insignificant difference between 2nd and 3rd trimesters. Serum levels dropped 12h postpartum to normal non pregnant level, suggesting that the major source of leptin in maternal plasma is the placenta.Serum leptin levels were positively correlated with body mass index in non pregnant, 1st trimester and 2nd trimester but not in the 3rd trimester. No correlation was found between serum leptin levels and estradiol in the non pregnant, 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimester. Serum leptin levels were correlated with serum hCG level in the 1st trimester but not in the 2nd or 3rd trimester.This study also demonstrated that there was a significant increase in serum leptin level in severe preeclamptic compared to normal pregnant and mild preeclamptic matched for gestational age and BMI. Serum leptin levels showed drop 12h postpartum in the severe preeclamptic. Serum leptin levels did not correlate with BMI, estradiol or hCG in normal pregnant, mild and severe preeclamptic. In preeclamptic women serum leptin levels showed a significant positive correlation with systolic, diastolic blood pressure and proteinuria.