HYPERLEPTINAEMIA IN CHILDREN WITH GROWTH
HORMONE DEFICIENCY
Wang Wei, Wang Defen, Ni Jihong, Cui Yifen, Sun
Wenxin
Department of Pediatrics, Ruijin hospital,
Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai, China
Abstract: Objective: To assess the relationship between serum leptin (L)
levels and the functions of hypothalamic-pituitary-insulin-like growth
factor (HP-IGF) axis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis.
Methods: 12 boys, aged 15.3±1.2 years, with primary
growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) in
addition with 12 healthy adolescent boys, aged 14.3±0.2 years as control were recruited. The GHD
patients all received rhGH (Genetropin) therapy for the 1styear
(0.1IU·kg-l·d-1). Radioimmunoassays were used to measure
serum leptin, LH, FSH and testosterone (T).
Results: Serum leptin levels were
significantly higher in GHD patients than these of the controls
(P<0.0001). It revealed also higher levels in their pretreatment values
than after completion of the 1st year rhGH therapy (P<0.005).
A multiple regression analyses showed that the serum leptin was positively
correlated to the body height, weight and body mass index (r=0.99,
P<0.0001; r=0.98, P<0.0001; r=0.87, P<0.0001), but negatively
correlated to levels of serum testosterone (r=-0.42, P<0.0001).
Conclusion: These data suggest that
relative serum hyperleptineamia revealed in our patients during prior
treatment may related with dysfunction of both HP-IGF axis (GH deficiency)
and HPG axis (androgen deficiency). Their serum leptin values reduced
posterior to treatment with GH and sexual hormone. This coincides with the
view that androgen may induce lower serum leptin in pubertal males. Serum
leptin concentration may also decrease by indirect role of exogenous GH treatment
on body fat mass.