Evaluation of Serum Leptin Level and Its Association with Disease Activity and Some Inflammatory Factors in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus disorder is a heterogeneous autoimmune disease that can affect any organ of the body. Leptin affects the activation, differentiation and proliferation of immune cells. This study aimed to evaluate the serum level of leptin and its relationship with disease activity and some inflammatory factors in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

In this cross-sectional study, 40 women with SLE who were admitted to the rheumatology ward of Urmia Imam Khomeini Hospital during the second semester of 2017 and 40 healthy controls were enrolled. Serum leptin concentration was measured by sandwich ELISA method in two groups. In SLE patients the disease activity was calculated using Systematic lupus erythematous activity index (SLEDAI). Inflammatory factors including CRP (C-reactive protein) and ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) were extracted from the patientchr('39')s records at the time of admission.

Serum leptin level was significantly different in patients (44.51±25.6) and controls (22.37±12.58) (p<0.001). Also, Serum leptin level was significantly higher in the active phase than inactive phase of the disease (active phase: 67.13±24.88, inactive phase: 24.88±12.37) (p<0.001). There was a positive correlation among serum leptin and activity level (r=0.7, p<0.001), ESR (r=0.53, p<0.001) and CRP (r=0.34, p=0.027).

Leptin serum level is high in patients with systemic lupus erythematous and is positively associated with disease activity.