Silva, N YTennekoon, K HSenanayake, LKarunanayake, E H2009-05-282009-05-282008-09-06Silva NY, Tennekoon KH, Senanayake L, Karunanayake EH. Cord blood leptin levels in normal pregnancies, pregnancy induced hypertension and gestational diabetes mellitus. The Ceylon Medical Journal. 2008 Sep; 53(3): 79-82http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/49150The Ceylon Medical Journal.OBJECTIVE: To compare cord blood leptin concentrations between normal pregnancy, pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Academic institutes and a tertiary care maternal hospital. METHOD: 48 newborns of normal pregnancies (N=18), pregnancy induced hypertension (N=16), and gestational diabetes mellitus (N=14) were studied. Cord blood samples were collected and newborn anthropometric indices recorded at delivery. Leptin concentrations were measured using an enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Cord blood leptin levels were significantly different between the 3 groups (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA; P=0.0064), and the difference resulted mainly from higher levels in GDM than in PIH [geometric mean (95% CI) for GDM: 10.89 (6.30, 18.84) vs PIH: 3.49 (2.14, 5.69) ng/ml (Dunn's multiple comparison: P<0.01). This pattern persisted even when leptin levels were normalized to the ponderal index (Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA P=0.0035; Dunn's multiple comparison: P<0.01). Leptin levels significantly and positively correlated with the ponderal index in normal pregnancy (Spearman r=0.506, p<0.05) and with birth weight in PIH (r=0.5463, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In GDM cord blood leptin levels are significantly higher, and a source other than fetal adipocytes appears to contribute to this.engBirth WeightBody HeightCross-Sectional StudiesDiabetes, Gestational --bloodFemaleFetal Blood --chemistryHumansHypertension, Pregnancy-Induced --bloodInfant, NewbornLeptin --bloodPregnancy --bloodComparative Study