SERUM LEPTIN IN ACNE VULGARIS PATIENTS

Acne vulgaris is a multifactorial disease. It affects many teenagers and may continue into adulthood. It is a follicular disorder that affects susceptible pilosebaceous follicules and is characterized by both non-inflammatory and inflammatory lesions. Leptin, a peptide hormone secreted predominantly from adipose tissue, is involved in the regulation of energy intake and expenditure. Recently, it has been shown to have several immunological effects including induction of proinflammatory cytokines, stimulation of keratinocyte proliferation and expression of adhesion molecules and thus could have a role in pathogenesis of acne vulgaris. Serum leptin levels in human beings depend on sex, age, and body fat mass. Oral food intake and diet composition such as carbohydrate-rich food influence leptin concentrations.