Evaluation of concentration of leptin and soluble receptor bound fraction of leptin in children and youth with Crohn’s disease

Introduction: Leptin is a hormone that promotes negative energy balance and acts proinflammatorily. It is thought that the soluble receptor bound fraction of leptin (OB-Re) performs a vital function in the regulation of hormone concentration in blood. Crohn’s disease (CD) belongs to a group of inflammatory bowel diseases whose significant complication is malnutrition.
Aim: To estimate leptin and OB-Re concentration in the blood of children and youth with CD.
Material and methods: The study examined 57 children and youth of both sexes, including 27 CD patients (study group) and 30 healthy subjects (comparative group). Leptin and OB-Re concentrations in the blood serum were determined and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The morbid process activity in CD patients was assessed.
Results: Leptin concentration [ng/ml] was lower in the study group (all group – 5.10 vs. 14.28, p = 0.0005, girls – 6.26 vs. 15.52, p = 0.003, boys – 3.74 vs. 9.42, p = 0.45). OB-Re concentration [ng/ml] was parallel in both groups, and only for boys with CD was insignificantly lower (12.83 vs. 20.25, p = 0.07). Leptin and OB-Re concentrations correlated in an analysis excluding sex distinguishing factors as well as for girls. The morbid process activity did not influence OB-Re concentration. For CD patients BMI positively correlated with leptin concentration in girls (p = 0.049) and negatively with OB-Re concentration in an analysis for the whole group (p = 0.0001) and for boys (p = 0.02) with CD.
Conclusions:
1. Leptin concentration is lower in CD patients.
2. OB-Re concentration negatively correlates with BMI and leptin concentration in CD patients what can indicate for its protective and regulative meaning in relation to hormone.
3. Nutritional status is more important activity regulative factor for leptin blood concentration in CD patients than morbid process activity.
4. Further studies on the influence of CD on leptin and OB-Re concentrations are necessary.