J Korean Soc Endocrinol.  2000 Oct;15(4-5):493-501.

Serum Leptin Levels during Growth Hormone Treatment in Children with Growth Hormone Deficiency

• Oh JH
• Lee BC

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Leptin the ob gene product is secreted by adipocytes and binds to specific receptors in the central nervous system regulating energe intake and expenditure. Correlation between fat mass and leptin level is well established. However, data on the hormonal regulation of the leptin in human are scarce. Growth hormone (GH) has lypolytic action and patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) have showed higher leptin levels than expected for the obesity We investigated the changes in serum leptin levels and body mass index in children with GHD during GH therapy.
METHODS
Thirty children with GHD participated. All subjects were 5~13 years old and in prepubertal stage. The causes of GHD were idiopathic in 15 and organic in 15 children. Patients received GH 0.6.7 IU/kg/week subcutaneously, in 67 divided doses and investigated at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of GH treatment. Serum leptin levels were determined with a human leptin and IGF-1 radioimmunoassay (Linco Research and Nichols Institute, USA).
RESULTS
The height velocity was increased significantly after 12 months of GH treatment. Serum leptin concentrations were significantly reduced after 6 and 12 months of treatment but revealed no significant differences in the sex and the causes of GHD. Body mass indices were significantly reduced after treatment. Serum leptin levels positively correlated with body mass index at baseline and after 6 and 12 months of GH treatment. The serum IGF-1 level were increased significantly after GH treatment and did not significantly correlated with leptin levels at baseline and after treatment.
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that serum leptin and body mass index were decreased with significant positive correlation during GH treatment in children with GHD.

MeSH Terms

Adipocytes
Body Mass Index
Central Nervous System
Child*
Growth Hormone*
Health Expenditures
Humans
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Leptin*
Obesity
Radioimmunoassay
Growth Hormone
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Leptin