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Plasma immunoreactive leptin concentration in end-stage renal disease
J K Howard1, G M Lord, E J Clutterbuck
1Department of Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, U.K.
Clinical Science (London, England : 1979)
|August 1, 1997
Summary
Plasma leptin levels are significantly elevated in patients with end-stage renal disease, potentially explaining anorexia and poor nutrition. This study investigated leptin in various renal disease groups.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Leptin, an appetite inhibitor, is cleared by the kidneys.
- Kidney dysfunction in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) may lead to leptin accumulation.
- Anorexia and malnutrition are common in ESRD patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure plasma leptin levels in patients with ESRD undergoing different renal replacement therapies.
- To compare leptin levels between renal patients and healthy controls.
- To explore the relationship between leptin, body mass index, and renal function.
Main Methods:
- Plasma immunoreactive leptin was measured in haemodialysis, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, and renal transplant patients, alongside healthy controls.
- Leptin levels were assessed before and after haemodialysis.
- Correlations with body mass index and serum creatinine were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significantly higher plasma leptin levels were observed in all renal patient groups compared to controls.
- Leptin levels were higher in females than males, even after adjusting for body mass index.
- Haemodialysis slightly reduced leptin, but levels remained elevated post-dialysis.
Conclusions:
- Patients with ESRD exhibit higher-than-expected plasma leptin levels relative to their body mass index.
- This condition, termed 'hyperleptinaemia,' may contribute to the anorexia and poor nutritional status characteristic of renal failure.
- Understanding hyperleptinaemia is crucial for managing nutritional complications in ESRD.