Leptin and leptin receptor levels in pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum

Objective: To investigate the association between the leptin, leptin receptor and hormone levels and hyperemesis gravidarum, and to determine whether these two parameters may be early markers for hyperemesis gravidarum. Methods: The study group consisted of 18 pregnant women with hyperemesis gravidarum and the control group consisted of 18 healthy pregnant women. Demographic characteristics were recorded and body mass index (BMI) values were calculated for all the pregnant women. Serum leptin, leptin receptor, insulin, cortisol, thyroid hormone and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels were measured. Results: When the two groups were compared with respect to leptin levels, the group with hyperemesis gravidarum was found to have significantly higher leptin levels (P = 0.037). No intergroup differences were observed in serum cortisol, insulin, hCG, thyroid hormone levels or BMI values. In the group with hyperemesis gravidarum, an inverse correlation was detected between cortisol and leptin (r = -0.762, P < 0.01), and hCG and thyroid-stimulating hormone (r = -0.503, P < 0.05), whereas a significant correlation was detected between insulin and leptin (r = 0.538, P < 0.05), leptin and BMI (r = 0.711, P < 0.01), and between TT3 and hCG (r = 0.605, P < 0.01). Conclusion: It was concluded that leptin could play a role in, and be defined as, a marker of hyperemesis gravidarum.