Changes of serum vaspin and leptin concentrations in full-term neonates with congenital pneumonia

Objective
Vaspin and leptin play an important role in the foetal and postnatal development of children, which may be disturbed by infections. The effect of congenital infection on serum vaspin and leptin values is not well known.

Aim
The evaluation of vaspin and leptin concentrations in full-term AGA neonates, according to their gender, birth asphyxia, type of delivery, occurrence of pneumonia and determination of correlation between concentrations of both hormones and anthropometric parameters.

Material and methods
The study involved 100 full-term neonates (53 boys and 47 girls); among them, 40 were with congenital pneumonia and 60 were healthy control. Serum vaspin and leptin concentrations were measured between the 3rd and 6th days of life by the ELISA method.

Results
It was found that vaspin and leptin concentrations were significantly higher in pneumonic neonates than in the healthy neonates. Healthy female neonates had significantly higher concentrations of both hormones than the male neonates. In neonates with pneumonia, negative correlation between vaspin concentration and foetal maturity was noted. Type of delivery had no influence on the values of these hormones in both the groups.

Conclusions
1. Congenital pneumonia in full-term AGA neonates contributes to increase of serum vaspin and leptin concentrations, independently of their gender, birth weight, birth asphyxia and type of delivery. 2. Healthy full-term female neonates have significantly higher vaspin and leptin concentrations than the male neonates. 3. In healthy and pneumonic neonates, any significant correlation between serum vaspin and leptin concentrations and body length, head and chest circumferences, and any mutual correlation between vaspin and leptin were stated.