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Serum leptin concentration in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus
D Nowak1, S K Peesapati, A Jeet
1Department of Endocrinology, Interfaith Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Insights
Serum leptin levels in HIV patients were comparable to lean individuals and positively correlated with BMI. These findings do not support leptin
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Infectious Diseases
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can lead to wasting syndrome.
- Leptin, a hormone produced by adipose tissue, plays a role in regulating body weight and metabolism.
- The potential involvement of leptin in HIV-related wasting requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between serum leptin levels and HIV-related wasting.
- To determine if leptin levels differ in HIV-infected individuals compared to healthy subjects.
- To explore correlations between leptin, body mass index (BMI), and demographic factors in HIV patients.
Main Methods:
- Serum leptin levels were measured in 94 HIV-infected patients.
- Correlations were analyzed with age, sex, weight, height, BMI, blood chemistries, and HIV parameters (viral load, CD4/CD8 ratio).
- Statistical analysis included comparisons between sexes and correlations with BMI, stratified by sex.
Main Results:
- Mean serum leptin was 7.0 +/- 6.9 ng/mL.
- Leptin levels were significantly higher in females (10.0 +/- 8.4 ng/mL) than males (5.0 +/- 4.9 ng/mL; P<0.001).
- Leptin showed a positive correlation with BMI (r=0.71; P<0.05), stronger when stratified by sex (females r=0.74, males r=0.81).
Conclusions:
- Serum leptin levels in HIV-infected patients with BMI 18-25 kg/m² were similar to lean healthy individuals.
- Leptin levels correlated positively with BMI, as anticipated.
- The study does not support a significant role for serum leptin in the pathogenesis of HIV-related wasting.
Objective:
To assess the potential effect of serum leptin levels in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-related wasting.
Methods:
Morning serum leptin levels of 94 randomly chosen HIV-infected patients were measured and correlated with age, sex, weight, height, body mass index (BMI), routine blood chemistries (SMA 18), complete blood cell count, HIV viral load, and CD4/CD8 ratio.
Results:
The mean serum leptin level was 7.0 +/- 6.9 ng/mL. Leptin levels were significantly higher in the 38 female patients than in the 56 male patients (10.0 +/- 8.4 ng/mL versus 5.0 +/- 4.9 ng/mL; P<0.001). Leptin levels were positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.71; P<0.05). The correlation of leptin levels with BMI was improved when the results were analyzed stratified by the sex of the patients (r = 0.74 for female patients; r = 0.81 for male patients).
Conclusion:
This study showed that the serum leptin levels in HIV-infected patients with BMI between 18 and 25 kg/m 2 were comparable to leptin levels in lean, healthy subjects. Leptin distribution was positively correlated with BMI, as expected. These data do not support the hypothesis for a major role of serum leptin in HIV-related wasting.
