All issues > Volume 43(7); 2000

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2000;43(7):959-966. Published online July 15, 2000.

Effect of Growth Hormone Secretion on Serum Concentration of Leptin

Se-Eun SE Kim¹, Jeong-Nyeo JN Lee², Sang-Ook SO Nam³, Woo-Yeong WY Chung¹

¹Department of P ediatrics, College of M edicine, Inje University, Pusan, Korea
²Department of Clinical Pathology, College of M edicine, Inje University, Pusan, Korea
³Department of Pediatrics, College of M edicine, Pusan National University, P usan, Korea

Correspondence Woo-Yeong WY Chung ,Email: chungwy@chollian.net

Abstract

Purpose
: To investigate the effect of growth hormone(GH) secretion on serum concentration of leptin, we evaluated the differences in serum concentration of leptin between patients with growth hormone deficiency(GHD) and GH normal short stature in prepubertal male children, and the relationship between GH and serum leptin level. Also, we analyzed the correlation between serum concentrations of leptin and insulin-like growth factor-I(IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3(IGFBP-3), total cholesterol(TC), free fatty acid(FFA) and body mass index(BMI).
Methods
: Eight cases with GHD and 10 cases with GH normal short stature were included in this study. Patients were all male, prepubertal children with mean age 10.6 years. Blood samples were collected in these patients by L-dopa GH provocation test. Statistical analysis of the comparisons of serum leptin level and correlation of multiple variables were performed using PC-SAS program. Significance was defined as P < 0.05.
Results
: The mean serum concentration of leptin in GHD(12.27±10.63ng/mL) was significantly higher than in GH normal short stature(5.39±3.21ng/mL)(P =0.0344). Serum concentration of leptin was negatively correlated to GH(y=-7.7x＋43.3, r=-0.23, P =0.0109). Serum concentration of leptin was positively correlated to BMI(y=2.5x－33.3, r=0.75, P =0.0003). Serum concentration of leptin was not correlated to IGF-I, IGFBP-3, TC and FFA.
Conclusion
: Serum concentration of leptin was siginificantly increased in patients with GHD compared to GH normal short stature and was negatively correlated to GH.

Keywords :Serum leptin, Growth hormone, Growth hormone deficiency, L-dopa GH provocation test