Leptin content in blood serum of obese pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancy

Abstract

Aim. To determine the leptin level in blood serum of obese pregnant women during the third trimester of pregnancy. Materials and Methods. There were examined two groups of women. Group 1 consisted of 32 obese women (class 1 - 13, class 2 - 10, class 3 - 9) during their third trimester of pregnancy (main group). Group 2 consisted of 30 healthy pregnant women (control group). Patients from both groups had their leptin tested. Patients were randomized per their age and pathology. Leptin was determined via enzyme multiplied immunoassay method. Obesity class is defined based on the body mass index (BMI), i.e. mass and weight ratio calculated per the following formula: the mass in kilograms is divided by the height in m2. If BMI values range from >18.5 to 30-35 kg/m2 indicate class 1 obesity, of BMI > 35-40 kg/m2 - class 2 obesity, of BMI >40 kg/m2 - class 3 obesity. Results and Discussion. Among the pregnancy complications in women from the main group the following should be mentioned: preeclampsia in pregnancy - 78,1%, early gestosis - 59,4%, threat of preterm birth - 65,6%, ARVI - 40,6%, premature leakage of amniotic fluid - 34,4%, foetal-placental perfusion disorders - 34,4%, big foetus - 31,2%, uterus scar - 34,4%, foetal growth retardation syndrome - 37,5%, preterm delivery - 28,1%, sutured uterine cervix - 21,9%, primary uterine inertia resistant to medical correction - 25%. When comparing the leptin level in pregnant women with no obesity and in pregnant women from the control and main groups it was detected that in healthy pregnant women leptin level was 27.11 ng/ml; in obesity class 1 pregnant women it was 48.03 ng/ml, i.e. 1.77 times greater than in women with no obesity. In obesity class 2 pregnant women the leptin level was 2.13 times higher than in pregnant women from the control group. In obesity class 3 pregnant women it was 2.45 times higher, respectively (р<0.05). The comparison of absolute value of leptin level in obese women with various obesity classes calls the specific attention. An increased leptin level in respect of the increased obesity class is observed. For instance, obesity class 2 shows the leptin level exceeding by 9.7 ng/ml (1.2 times) when compared to the obesity class 1 pregnant women. In the obesity class 3 pregnant women the leptin level is greater by 18.48 ng/ml (1.38 times) if compared with the obesity class 1 women. If compared to the obesity class 2 pregnant women, it is greater by 8.78 ng/ml (1.15 times). Conclusions. Obese pregnant women show the increase of leptin content in blood serum during the third trimester of pregnancy if compared with healthy patients. Leptin content in blood serum of obese women correlates with the disease severity (r=0,47; p<0,05). Presented facts necessitate the conduction of further studies on the given matter. In particular, it is required to clarify the dependency of obstetric and perinatal complications on the leptin content in blood serum of obese pregnant women.

Keywords

• pregnancy, obesity, leptin, delivery, metabolic syndrome