Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model
04:20

Author Spotlight: Exploring Microglial Interactions with Stress-Response Circuitry Using the Limited Bedding and Nesting Model

Published on: July 12, 2024

2.3K

Factors affecting cord blood leptin levels in a consecutive birth cohort

Rina Fyfe1,2, Alice Burton1, Andrew McLennan1,3

  • 1Sydney Institute for Women, Children and their Families, Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, Australia.

The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine : the Official Journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians
|June 30, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Umbilical cord leptin levels, influenced by maternal and fetal factors, may help screen newborns. Lower leptin levels in newborns admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) suggest potential for early identification of at-risk infants.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal Medicine
  • Neonatology
  • Endocrinology

Background:

  • Fetal growth trajectories impact long-term health outcomes.
  • Traditional anthropometric assessments have limitations in diverse populations.
  • Umbilical cord blood leptin offers a potential biomarker for fetal growth screening.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report cord blood leptin levels in a large birth cohort.
  • To assess the relationship between leptin and neonatal/maternal factors.
  • To establish a normal range for cord blood leptin and evaluate its association with neonatal outcomes.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective collection of umbilical cord blood samples from 1275 deliveries.
  • Measurement of serum leptin levels and collation of maternal/neonatal data.
  • Statistical analysis to identify associations and establish normal ranges (multiples of the median).

Main Results:

  • Leptin levels correlated significantly with gestational age, birthweight, infant sex, plurality, and maternal BMI.
  • Lower mean leptin levels (multiples of the median) were observed in infants admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
  • No significant association found between leptin levels and 5-minute Apgar scores.

Conclusions:

  • Neonatal cord leptin is influenced by maternal and fetal characteristics.
  • Adjusted leptin levels can account for population variations.
  • Lower mean leptin multiples of the median in NICU-admitted infants warrant further investigation for potential clinical utility in identifying high-risk fetuses.
Abstract

Keywords:
Fetal growth restrictiongestational diabetesleptinmacrosomiaumbilical cord blood

More Related Videos

Detecting Establishment of Shared Blood Supply in Parabiotic Mice by Caudal Vein Glucose Injection06:27

Detecting Establishment of Shared Blood Supply in Parabiotic Mice by Caudal Vein Glucose Injection

Published on: February 6, 2020

8.8K
Isolation of Precursor B-cell Subsets from Umbilical Cord Blood14:06

Isolation of Precursor B-cell Subsets from Umbilical Cord Blood

Published on: April 16, 2013

18.5K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
180
Factors affecting Blood pressure01:28

Factors affecting Blood pressure

Several physiological and lifestyle factors influence blood pressure (BP). Understanding these factors is crucial as they are significant in patient education and blood pressure management.
Physiological Factors:
6.2K
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.8K