Serum leptin in children with asthma treated with inhaled budesonide

Leptin, a 167-amino-acid peptide, is a recently discoverd hormone which is believed to play a major role in the regulation of body weight. Systemic administration of exogenous glucocorticoids has been found to increase circulating leptin levels. In this study, we aimed to assess serum leptin in children with asthma treated with inhaled budesonide 800 mu g day(-1). Ten boys and three girls with asthma, all adolescents aged from 12.9 to 16.6 years, were studied in a randomized double-blind two-period cross-over trial with 4-week treatment periods and a 1-week wash out. Placebo was given during one period and 800 mu g budesonide during the Other via a 750 ml volume spacer (Nebuhaler(R), Astra Draco, Lund, Sweden). On the last day of the placebo and budesonide periods blood samples were taken and serum leptin was measured by a specific radioimmunoassay. The difference in mean (SEM) leptin concentration between the budesonide and placebo period was 0.2 (0.4) mu g l(-1) (P=0.71; t=-0.4; df=12, 95% confidence interval -0.9 0.7 mu g l(-1)). Inhaled budesonide 800 mu g per day from a Nebuhaler(R) does not influence circulating leptin levels, suggesting that regulation of body weight is unaffected.