The plasma leptin concentration is closely associated with the body fat mass in nondiabetic uremic patients

Plasma leptin is associated with the body mass index and, more precisely, w ith the body fat mass. Plasma leptin has been found to be elevated in uremi c patients. This study aimed at investigating the plasma leptin concentrati on and associations between plasma leptin, body fat mass, and glomerular fi ltration rate in nondiabetic predialysis uremic patients and in nondiabetic patients on chronic hemodialysis. Plasma leptin, body fat mass, and creati nine clearance were measured in 22 predialysis uremic patients, 18 hemodial ysis patients, and 24 healthy control subjects. The logarithmically transfo rmed plasma leptin concentration was closely associated with the body fat m ass in all groups (r = 0.93, r = 0.83, and r = 0.72, respectively; p < 0.00 0001, < 0.000002 and p < 0.001, respectively). In predialysis uremic patien ts the plasma leptin concentration was slightly elevated as compared with c ontrols 10.4 (3.1-59.5) ng/ml versus 5.4 (1.6-47.5) ng/ml (median and range in parentheses; p < 0.05), whereas the plasma leptin concentration was nor mal in hemodialysis patients. Plasma leptin was not significantly associate d with the creatinine clearance in predialysis patients. In conclusion; the glomerular filtration rate seemed to have a limited influence on the plasm a leptin concentration in nondiabetic uremic subjects matched by body fat m ass to controls. The plasma leptin concentration was closely associated wit h the body fat mass, and the leptin level might, therefore, be useful as an indicator of the fat mass in nondiabetic uremic patients.