Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed 2001;85:F123-F126
( September )
Postnatal changes in concentrations of free and bound leptin
T K Hytinanttia, M Juntunenb c, H A Koistinenc, V A Koivistoc, S-L Karonenb, S Anderssond e
a Helsinki City
Maternity Hospital, Helsinki, Finland, b Department of Clinical Chemistry, Helsinki
University Central Hospital, c Department of Medicine, Division Of Geriatrics,
Helsinki University Central Hospital, d Department
of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, e Hospital for Children and
Adolescents, Helsinki University Central Hospital
Correspondence to: Dr Hytinantti, Helsinki City Maternity
Hospital, Sofianlehdonkatu 5, 00610 Helsinki, Finland
timo.hytinantti{at}hus.fi
Accepted 14 May 2001
AIM
To evaluate the
effect of maternal diabetes on the concentrations of free and bound
leptin at birth and during postnatal adaptation.
METHODSTotal, bound,
and free leptin concentrations and the percentage of free leptin were
measured in cord plasma and plasma at 3 days of age of 13 term infants
of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and 13 term infants
of healthy mothers. Gestational age was 40.2 (1.4) weeks, and birth
weight was 3693 (549) g (means (SD)).
RESULTSAt birth,
infants of mothers with GDM had significantly higher concentrations of
total, bound, and free leptin and a higher percentage of free leptin
(all p < 0.05). In all infants, these concentrations were
significantly lower at 3 days of age than at birth (all p < 0.003),
and the differences in concentrations of total, bound, and free leptin
between the two groups were no longer significant. In infants of
mothers with GDM, the percentage of free leptin remained unchanged, and
was higher (p<0.05) than in infants of healthy mothers; in the latter
group the percentage of free leptin significantly declined
(p = 0.02).
CONCLUSIONSGDM
appears to influence fetoplacental leptin metabolism. This effect may
be mediated through altered maternal glucose metabolism, or
insulinaemia, or both.
Keywords:
leptin;
gestational diabetes mellitus;
glucose
metabolism
© 2001 by Archives of Disease in Childhood
