Decreased serum leptin levels in women with uterine leiomyomas.

Abstract

To analyze the possible involvement of leptin in uterine leiomyomas. Serum leptin levels, determined by radioimmunoassay, were compared in myomatic (n = 50) and the normal (n = 50) women. A significant correlation was found between serum leptin levels and body mass index in both the myomatic women (r = 0.76, p < 0.001) and the normal women (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Serum leptin levels in the myomatic women (9.3 +/- 0.6 ng/mL) were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than those in the normal women (13.6 +/- 1.2 ng/mL). In addition, the ratios of serum leptin levels/body mass index in the myomatic women (0.38 +/- 0.02) were significantly lower than those in the normal women (0.57 +/- 0.04) (p < 0.001). A significant correlation was found between the ratios of serum leptin levels/body mass index and body mass index (r = 0.59, p < 0.001) in the normal women, but not in the myomatic women (r = 0.27, p = 0.061). The lower plasma leptin levels observed in the women with myomas were independent of body mass index, and unlike the normal women there was no significant up-regulation of leptin production in response to increased adiposity.