Right hippocampus size is negatively correlated with leptin serum levels in bipolar disorder

Obesity is more frequent in bipolar disorder. Adipokines are associated with depression and obesity via the inflammatory process. Twenty-six DSM-IV patients with BD and 39 controls were enrolled to assess the relationship between serum leptin and adiponectin with hippocampal volumes. Among patients, there was a significant negative correlation between right hippocampal volume and serum leptin levels. This result sum for the hypothesis of a pro-inflammatory state associated with BD and the prevalent co-morbid obesity.