Serum leptin concentrations in children with Prader-Willi syndrome and non-syndromal obesity

There is limited information on the underlying physiological mechanisms pro moting obesity in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The aim of thi s study was to investigate whether body fat regulation in children with PWS is similar to that in children with nonsyndromal obesity and non-obese chi ldren. We studied three groups: 1) 72 non-obese children and adolescents; 2 ) 68 children with nonsyndromal obesity; and 3) 11 patients with PWS. Heigh t and weight were measured and body mass index (BMI) and BMI SDS were calcu lated. Fasting serum leptin concentrations were determined. Median leptin s erum concentrations were similar in PWS patients and children with non-synd romal obesity. Median leptin serum concentrations were higher in these two groups than in the non-obese group. Log leptin serum concentrations and BMI SDS showed significant correlations in the three groups of patients; corre lation coefficients were 0.525, 0.285 and 0.854, respectively. In conclusio n, median leptin serum concentrations are similar in PWS patients and child ren with non-syndromal obesity. The relationship between log serum leptin c oncentrations and BMI SDS was different in the three groups of patients stu died.