Serum leptin levels in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum leptin levels in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), in order to determine the influence of leptin on the pathogenesis of ITP.

SUBJECTS AND

METHODS

Forty-six untreated patients with chronic ITP were compared with 40 healthy people of similar age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Serum leptin levels (ng/mL) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

We found that the mean serum leptin levels in patients with ITP (22.11 +/- 15.84 ng/mL) were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than that in healthy control volunteers (5.44 +/- 4.84 ng/mL). Furthermore, serum leptin levels in patients with ITP were inversely related (r = -0.86, P < 0.001) to the platelet counts and positively related to the platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) levels (r = 0.7, P < 0.001). The levels of PAIgG and platelet counts were significantly different between leptin-positive (level greater than mean +/- 2 SD control value) and leptin-negative patients.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that leptin might play an important role in the pathogenesis of ITP.