Leptin concentrations in patients with bronchial asthma and diabetes mellitus

Aim. estimate leptin production in long-term steroid therapy, insulin resistance and obesity. Material and methods. Leptin concentrations were measured with enzyme immunoassay in 101 patients with bronchial asthma and diabetes mellitus and 31 healthy controls with overweight. The mean age was 54.4 ± 14.1 years in males and 56.8 ± 12.1 years in females. The body mass index ranged from 18 to 47 kg/m2, while leptin varied from 0.1 to 105.8 ng/ml. Results. Leptin was highest in patients with bronchial asthma and steroids-induced diabetes mellitus, lower in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 and obese controls while it was lowest in patients with atopic bronchial asthma. Conclusion. Steroids and insulin resistance participate in the regulation of leptin production. Steroids induce hyperleptinemia in vivo more intensively than insulin.