The circulating level of leptin and blood pressure in patients with multiple system atrophy

Patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) frequently exhibit orthostatic hypotension (OH). Leptin, an adipose-derived hormone, contributes to the sympathetic control of blood pressure (BP), and loss of leptin may cause OH. We aimed to clarify the relationship between leptin and OH in MSA. Serum leptin levels were measured in 36 patients with MSA, 25 patients with other atypical parkinsonian disorders (APDs), including progressive supranuclear palsy-Richardson syndrome and corticobasal syndrome, and 26 control subjects. Blood samples were obtained after fasting for 12h. In MSA patients, baseline BP was measured in the recumbent position after a 3-min rest, and orthostatic changes in BP were evaluated after 0-3 min of standing. Serum leptin levels did not differ significantly between MSA patients (5.9 ± 0.8 ng/ml), other APD patients (5.2 ± 0.8 ng/ml), and controls (6.1 ± 1.3 ng/ml; P=0.8). In MSA patients, serum leptin levels correlated significantly with body mass index (P=0.01), but not baseline BPs (systolic BP, P=0.20; diastolic BP, P=0.44) or orthostatic drop in BP (systolic BP, P=0.13; diastolic BP, P=0.58). Our observations indicated that the circulating level of leptin was preserved, and OH occurred independent of the leptin level in MSA patients.