THE EFFECTS OF LEPTIN ON PREGNANCY AND NEONATAL OUTCOME, A REVIEW

Serum leptin is a circulating hormone that is expressed abundantly in adipose
tissue. Defects in the leptin gene and its receptor causes numerous pathological problems such as over
eating and obesity, improper functioning of the reproductive and hormonal imbalances. The purpose
of this review is summarizing and analyzing articles about the effects of leptin on pregnancy and
neonatal outcome.
Materials & Methods: The Pubmed, Medline, Irandoc, SID, Science direct, Magiran database were
surveyed for original studies describing the association between leptin effects on pregnancy and
neonatal outcome. Totally, 120 articles were reviewed and 70 articles of association with leptin
effects on pregnancy and neonatal outcome were selected and investigated secondarily (review essay).
Results: A significant relationship was found between maternal weight and maternal serum leptin.
Studies have indicated that leptin levels are increased in pregnancy complications such as
preeclampsia and diabetes. Cord leptin level was significantly associated with birth weight, length and
head circumference of infant. In addition concentrations of the polypeptide in umbilical cord blood
were correlated with placental weights. This hormone is also found in breast milk that can prevent
obesity in the infant.
Conclusions: Many physiological roles have been suggested for leptin in human pregnancy. Leptin
also plays a role in the pathophysiology of pregnancy, and it may be predictive in the complication of
pregnancy. Studies have suggested that recombinant human leptin can be used in the treatment of
pregnancies with fetal growth restriction. In general, to identify the effects of this hormone, further
studies are needed