Serum Leptin Level in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss in Mid-Zone Governorate, Gaza strip

Abstract

Background: Leptin hormone is involved in supporting normal pregnancy and its disturbance is recently implicated in the pathogenesis of various disorders during pregnancy that might lead to recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Objective: To assess serum leptin level in women with RPL in Gaza strip. Materials and methods: This case-control study comprised 42 women with RPL and 42 control women with no history of RPL. Questionnaire interview was applied. Serum leptin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) and Luteinizing hormone (LH) were determined. Data were computer analyzed using SPSS version 18.0. Results: The mean ages of cases and controls were 31.6±7.3 and 31.1±6.4 years, respectively. Menstrual data showed that the mean duration of menstruation was significantly longer in cases compared to controls and the number of cases who reported irregular menstruation was also significantly higher than controls. The number of cases who have children was significantly lower than controls. Higher number of those cases reported cesarean compared to their counterparts of controls. Concerning abortion, 57.1% of cases have 3 abortions and 42.9% have more than 3 abortions. When related to frequency of abortion, the number of cases who had 3 abortions was found to have significantly higher number of children than those who had >3 abortions. The mean gestational age of fetus at abortion was 10.2±3.9 weeks indicating that most abortions took place in the first trimester. Toxoplasmosis was significantly higher than controls. Toxoplasmosis was found to be associated with abortion. The mean level of serum leptin was significantly elevated in cases compared to controls (17.3±13.1 vs. 9.0±7.1 ng/ml, % difference=63.1, P=0.007). However, there were no significant differences in the mean levels of TSH, FSH and LH between cases and controls (P>0.05). The mean level serum leptin was significantly higher in cases reported irregular menstruation that those reported regular menstruation (21.8±13.7 versus 15.1±9.3, P=0.044). Similarly, serum leptin was significantly higher in cases that had more than three abortions compared to those who had three abortions (22.3±12.9 versus 14.5±10.2, P=0.046). Cases reported toxoplasmosis showed significantly higher serum leptin levels (24.8±9.5 versus 16.5±8.3, P=0.034). Finally, serum leptin exhibited positive significant correlations with serum TSH and LH levels (r=0.359, P=0.021 and r=0.767, P=0.000, respectively). Conclusions: Serum leptin was significantly higher in women with RPL compared to controls. Leptin level was higher in patients reported irregular menstruation, had more than three abortions and those reported toxoplasmosis. Serum leptin exhibited positive significant correlations with serum TSH and LH levels.