Abstract
BACKGROUND: Leptin is an important weight regulator and during pregnancy leptin is not only synthesized in adipose tissue but also in the placenta.
AIM: To examine changes in serum leptin levels in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus during pregnancy and post delivery in relation to concomitant changes in maternal body weight, birth weight, glycemic control, and blood pressure.
METHODS: Non-fasting serum leptin from 45 women with type 1 diabetes mellitus were studied consecutively throughout pregnancy and 3 months post partum.
RESULTS: Serum leptin was positively associated with HbA1c in week 18, 22 and 30 (r=0.38, 0.41, and 0.54, respectively, p<0.05, adjusted for body weight). Moreover, serum leptin correlated positively with maternal body weight and BMI (0.45<r<0.66, p<0.05). Serum leptin was significantly lower after delivery than during pregnancy where the levels showed no change from gestational week 14 to week 38. In obese women (BMI >25 kg/m2), the changes during pregnancy and the level of serum leptin were significantly greater compared to lean women (p<0.05). The women with low ambulatory blood pressure (lower tertile, mean arterial blood pressure <83.4 mmHg) showed the lowest level of serum leptin throughout pregnancy and it changed significantly differently from the women with higher blood pressure (p<0.05).
CONCLUSION: Changes in serum leptin levels of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus were associated with parallel changes in maternal body weight and glycemic control. Women with low blood pressure had the lowest serum leptin levels throughout pregnancy.
Originalsprog | Engelsk |
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Tidsskrift | Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica |
Vol/bind | 80 |
Udgave nummer | 7 |
Sider (fra-til) | 596-601 |
Antal sider | 6 |
ISSN | 0001-6349 |
Status | Udgivet - jul. 2001 |