Methylprednisolone increases plasma leptin levels in Graves' hyperthyroidism patients with active Graves' ophthalmopathy

Citation
Ym. Song et al., Methylprednisolone increases plasma leptin levels in Graves' hyperthyroidism patients with active Graves' ophthalmopathy, HORMONE MET, 32(7), 2000, pp. 277-282
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Endocrinology, Nutrition & Metabolism
Journal title
HORMONE AND METABOLIC RESEARCH
ISSN journal
00185043 → ACNP
Volume
32
Issue
7
Year of publication
2000
Pages
277 - 282
Database
ISI
SICI code
0018-5043(200007)32:7<277:MIPLLI>2.0.ZU;2-X
Abstract
Whether leptin, a product of the ob gene, can be stimulated by glucocortico id administration has been an issue of controversy. We investigated the eff ect of intravenous administration of methylprednisolone (500 mg/day x 3 day s) on plasma levels of leptin in 16 patients (female/male = 11/5) with Grav es' hyperthyroidism and active ophthalmopathy who received pulse therapy. S ignificant elevation of plasma leptin levels started at the eighth hour (13 .9 +/- 1.8 ng/mL, p = 0.042) and lasted until the 72nd hour (21.2 +/- 5.0 n g/mL, p = 0.009), as compared with basal levels (8.8 +/- 1.2 ng/mL). When m ethylprednisolone was replaced with oral prednisolone (10 mg three times pe r day x 2 weeks), no difference in plasma leptin levels was noted compared with basal measurement. Under methylprednisolone administration, a signific ant suppression of tumor necrosis factor-oc began at the 24th hour (8.1 +/- 1.3 pg/mL, p = 0.004) and lasted until the 48th hour (8.1 +/- 1.0 pg/mL, p = 0.008), as compared with basal measurement (121.5 +/- 1.5 pg/mL). Compar ed with basal levels (93 +/- 2 mg/dL), significant elevation in the plasma glucose level started at the third hour (135 +/- 10 mg/dL, p = 0.000) and l asted until the 72nd hour (110 +/- 4 mg/dL, p = 0.019). The timing of serum insulin elevation approximated that of plasma glucose (3 hours: 14 +/- 3 m u U/mL, p = 0.006) and lasted until the end of prednisolone administration (2 weeks: 12 +/- 2 mu U/mL, p = 0.044), when compared with basal levels (14 +/- 3 mu U/mL). We concluded that the parental administration of pharmacol ogical doses of methylprednisolone to patients with Graves' hyperthyroidism could acutely raise their plasma level of leptin.