Abstract:OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship between the serum leptin level and growth & development in newborns. METHODS: The serum leptin level was examined by the radioimmunoassay (RIA) in 14 premature neonates and 66 term neonates. The term newborns were assigned into the large for gestational age (LAG) group (n= 18), the appropriate for gestational age (AGA) group (n = 32) and the small for gestational age (SGA) group (n = 16). The neonatal nutritional status was evaluated by Rohrer' s index. RESULTS: The leptin level in the preterm newborns was significantly lower than that in the term neonates [ ( 0. 66 ±1. 03) ng/ml vs (3. 59 ± 2.16 ) ng/ml ] ( P < 0.01). The leptin level in the AGA newborns [(3.06 ±0.96) ng/ml] was significantly lower than that in the LGA neonates [(4. 03 ±2.22) ng/ml], and was significantly higher than that in the SGA neonates [(1.13 ±1.98) ng/ml]. The serum leptin level was positively correlated with Rohrer' s index, neonatal weight and gestational age in the term neonates ( r =0.61, 0.68, 0.62, respectively; all P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The serum leptin level may be a valuable index to evaluate neonatal growth and nutrional status. [Chin J Contemp Pediatr, 2003, 5(1): 29-30]
