Relationship of serum Leptin level with papillary thyroid cancer in Iranian patients

Leptin is an adipose tissue related hormone that contributes to food intake control, energy expenditure and other activities such as cell proliferation. Relationship of Leptin level with hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and thyroid cancer has been suggested recently. As thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer, the aim of this study was evaluation of Leptin levels in thyroid cancer patients. In this descriptive-sectional study, 83 patients with papillary thyroid cancer (35 males and 48 females) and 90 healthy persons (40 male and 50 females) were selected by purposeful sampling method from April 2009 to April 2010. Serum Thyroxine, Thyrotropin and Leptin levels were determined in both groups. As body fat tissue affect Leptin level, height and weight and body mass index was measured. Independent T-test was used for comparing parameters and SPSS 15 software was used for data analysis. There was no statistically significant difference in age average and serum Thyroxine and Thyrotropin levels. BMI was higher in women than men in both groups. Serum Leptin level in thyroid cancer group (women 23.3±19.6; men 17.3±10.4 ng/ml) was significantly (p<0.05) higher than control group (women 6.9±4.3; men 5.6±2.2 ng/ml). Leptin level has relation with papillary thyroid cancer. Probably, Leptin level can be consider as a help marker in diagnosis or confirmation of thyroid cancer.