Leptin promoter G-2548A genotypes and associated serum leptin levels in childhood acute leukemia at diagnosis and under high-dose steroid therapy.

AbstractGenotype/allele distributions of leptin promoter G−2548A polymorphism, serum leptin and insulin levels and body weight were not significantly different between 72 children (39 male/33 female; age range 1.08–16, median 6 years) with acute leukemia (56 acute lymphoblastic leukemia [ALL]/16 acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia [ANLL]) at diagnosis and 70 age- and sex-matched controls (p > 0.05). The − 2548GG genotype was associated with the highest leptin levels in controls and patients with acute leukemia after 7-day high-dose methylprednisolone (HDMP) therapy (p 0.05). One-week HDMP therapy in patients carrying the − 2548G allele caused a significant increase in leptin levels and body weight (p 0.05). Decreases in white blood cell counts of patients after therapy were insignificant in − 2548GG (p >...