Serum leptin levels in patients with sideropenic and pernicious anemia: The influence of anemia treatment

Leptin is a 16 kDa protein hormone involved in food intake, energy expendit ure regulation and numerous other physiological processes. Recently, leptin has been demonstrated to stimulate hematopoietic stem cells in vitro. The aim of our study was to measure serum leptin and erythropoietin levels in p atients with sideropenic (n=18) and pernicious anemia (n=7) before and duri ng anemia treatment. Blood samples for the blood count, leptin and erythrop oietin determinations were obtained by venepunction at the time of the diag nosis of anemia and after partial and complete anemia recovery. The relatio nships of serum leptin levels to erythropoietin levels and blood count para meters were also studied. No significant differences in serum leptin levels between the groups studied were found. The serum leptin levels in none of groups were modified by treatment of anemia (basal levels, the levels durin g treatment and after anemia recovery were 13.1+/-14.5 vs 12.8+/-15.6 vs 12 .0+/-14.8 ng/ml in patients with sideropenic anemia and 7.8+/-8.5 vs 9.5+/- 10.0 vs 8.9+/-6.6 ng/ml in patients with pernicious anemia). The erythropoi etin levels were higher at the time of anemia in both groups and decreased significantly after partial or complete recovery. Serum leptin levels in bo th groups correlated positively with the body mass index. No significant re lationships were found between serum leptin levels and erythropoietin value s or various parameters of the peripheral blood count. We conclude that ser um leptin levels in patients with sideropenic and pernicious anemia positiv ely correlate with the body mass index but are not influenced by the treatm ent of anemia.