A study on the relationship of leptin concentrations in the maternal plasma and cord blood to fetal weight in term normal-pregnant and preeclampsia women

Objective : The aim of this study is to assess the relationships between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concenttations and their effects on newborn birth weights, maternal body mass indices and fetal sex in term nonnotensive (NT) and preeclampsia (PE) women. Methods : Blood samples were obtained at delivery from 20 NT group and another 20 from PE group of at least 36 weeks of gestation. And the umbilical cord samples were also taken from their newborns at birth. Plasma leptin levels were determined in both groups using a human recombinant leptin 125-I radioimmunoassay. Results : Mean maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations were 16.162.05 ng/ml and 7.111.01 ng/ml in NT group, 17.091.67 ng/ml and 8.556.63 ng/ml in PE group, and there was no statistical significances among them. The differences of leptin concentrations in maternal plasma and umbilical cord according to baby sex were not significant in both NT and PE groups. Plasma leptin concentrations were related with maternal weight gain and BMI in NT group and with body weight in PE group. The BMI and birth weights of the neonates have significant effects on the umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. Conclusion: In this study, no correlation was found between maternal plasma and umbilical cord leptin concentrations in both NT and PE groups. But maternal plasma leptin concentrations had positive correlations with maternal body weight, BMI, and body weight changes during pregnancy in both NT and PE groups. There were also positive correlations among umbilical cord leptin concentrations. BMI and birth weights of the neonates of NT and PE groups term, Therefore umbilical cord leptin is considered to be the index of fetal birth weight.