Background: Leptin is a protein product of obesity gene and is
synthesized mainly by adipose tissue. Objective: The aim of this study
was to determine maternal and neonatal serum leptin levels in term
preeclamptic and normal pregnancies. Materials and Methods: This cross
sectional study was performed on 37 preeclamptic and 40 normotensive
term pregnant women without other disease. Serum level of leptin was
measured in all of pregnant mothers and after delivery, their neonates.
This study was performed in Babol Yahyanejad Hospital from March 2006
to December 2006. Results: Infants with preeclamptic mothers had
significantly lower leptin level than control group (p=0.02). There was
no significant difference in serum leptin levels between normal and
preeclamptic women (p=0.749). Conclusion: According to the results, it
would be concluded that leptin level in infants of preeclamptic mothers
is lower than infants of normal mothers. This can only confirm the
diagnosis of disease after birth but it cannot predict the preeclampsi