Clinical study on umbilical cord leptin levels associated with fetal growth and neonatal birth weight

Abstract

Objective To study the relationship between umbilical cord leptin levels and fetal growth as well as neonatal birth weight. Methods One hundred and forty-two neonates selected from February 2009 to June 2013 in Shangqiu First People's Hospital according to the different gestational age and birth weight were divided into 3 groups.Group A included 44 cases(small for gestational age, birth weight below the average weight of the 10th percentile at the same gestational age), 23 boy cases, 21 girl cases; group B included 56 cases (appropriate for gestational age, birth weight at the average weight of the 10th to 90th percentile at the same gestational age), 30 boy cases, 26 girl cases; group C included 42 cases (large for gestational age, birth weight above the average weight of the 90th percentile at the same gestational age), 22 boy cases, 20 girl cases.Neonatal body mass index, birth weight, placenta weight and umbilical leptin levels of three groups were compared. Results Neonatal birth weight, neonatal body length, body mass index and the placenta weight leptin levels in group A were significantly lower than those of group B, having statistically significant difference (all P<0.001); Neonatal birth weight, neonatal body length, body mass index and the placenta weight leptin levels in group C were significantly higher than those in group B, with statistically significant difference (all P<0.001). Neonatal birth weight in the boy group was obviously higher than that of the girl group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Neonatal leptin levels in the boy group were significantly lower than that of the girl group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). There were positive correlations between the umbilical cord leptin levels and the neonatal birth weight, neonatal length, neonatal weight index and the placenta weight(r=0.382, 0.276, 0.358, 0.412, all P<0.01). Conclusions The umbilical cord leptin levels are closely associated with neonatal birth weight and intrauterine growth retardation, and it can be used as one of the important indicators for reflecting neonatal birth weight and fetal growth. Key words: Infant, newborn; Birth weight; Intrauterine growth retardation; Leptin; Correlation