Original paper
Leptin and insulin concentration in young hypertensives with simple obesity

Introduction: Hyperinsulinaemia, hyperleptinaemia and hypertension, which often accompany obesity, can have their origin in childhood and adolescence.

Aim : The aim of this study was to assess leptin and insulin concentration, using radioimmunological methods, in young patients with primary arterial hypertension and accompanying simple obesity.

Material and methods : In the study group there were 30 obese hypertensives, 16 girls and 14 boys, aged 16 to 19 years. Secondary causes of hypertension and obesity were excluded. The control group included 20 young subjects with normal blood pressure and weight, matched for age and sex. In both groups we made anthropometric measurements, and measured systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting serum leptin and insulin concentration.

Results : The average body mass index (BMI) of obese hypertensives was 32.3 ±2.1 kg/m², the average value of systolic blood pressure (SBP) was 151.0 ±7.8 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 98.0 ±3.5 mmHg. In the study group serum leptin was 22.7 ±7.6 µg/ml and insulin 13.47 ±6.6 µIU/ml. In the control group serum leptin was 15.29 ±3.7 µg/ml and insulin 9.7 ±2.8 µIU/ml. A significant difference in leptin and insulin concentrations between the study group and healthy subjects was observed in this study (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: We conclude that hyperinsulinaemia and hyperleptinaemia, detected in young, obese hypertensives, are good predictors for the development of the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases in later adulthood.