Do serum leptin levels have a role in the prediction of pregnancy outcome in case of threatened miscarriage

Summary Objective  To determine whether maternal serum leptin levels can predict pregnancy outcome in cases of threatened miscarriage. Design  Observational study. Patients  Fifty-seven women with normal pregnancy (group A), 19 women with threatened miscarriage who delivered at term (group B), 22 women with threatened miscarriage with subsequent miscarriage (group C) and 27 women with delayed miscarriage (group D). Measurements  Maternal serum leptin was determined using a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. Results  Serum leptin levels were not significantly different among groups A, B and C [median (range) 17·6 (10·1–26·5), 18·2 (12·5–25·6) and 17·3 (11·2–27·6) µg/l, respectively]. Women in group D showed significantly lower serum leptin levels in comparison with other groups [14 (6·7–21·3) µg/l; P < 0·05]. Conclusions  Serum leptin levels in the first trimester of pregnancy may not be the primary indicator of miscarriage in cases of threatened abortion.