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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 21, 2006; 12(27): 4392-4396
Published online Jul 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i27.4392
Is leptin related to systemic inflammatory response in acute pancreatitis?
Andrés Duarte-Rojo, Ana Lezama-Barreda, María Teresa Ramírez-Iglesias, Mario Peláez-Luna, Guillermo Robles-Díaz
Andrés Duarte-Rojo, Department of Internal Medicine, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Sección XVI, Tlalpan, CP 14000, México, DF, México
Ana Lezama-Barreda, María Teresa Ramírez-Iglesias, Mario Peláez-Luna, Department of Gastroenterology, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Vasco de Quiroga 15, Sección XVI, Tlalpan, CP 14000, México, DF, México
Guillermo Robles-Díaz, Department of Experimental Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Hospital General de México, Dr. Balmis 148 PB Colonia Doctores, CP 06726, Mexico, DF, México
Co-first-authors: Guillermo Robles-Díaz
Co-correspondents: Andrés Duarte-Rojo
Correspondence to: Guillermo Robles-Díaz, MD, Department of Experimental Medicine, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Hospital General de México, Dr. Balmis 148 PB Colonia Doctores, CP 06726, Mexico, DF,México. grd@quetzal.innsz.mx
Telephone: +52-55-54870922-2106 Fax: +52-55-55731122
Received: November 27, 2005
Revised: November 28, 2005
Accepted: January 14, 2006
Published online: July 21, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between leptin and systemic inflammation in acute pancreatitis.

METHODS: Consecutive patients with acute pancreatitis were included. Body mass index and serum samples were obtained at admission. Leptin, TNF-α, IL-6, -8 and -10 levels were determined by ELISA. Severity was defined according to Atlanta criteria.

RESULTS: Fifty-two (29 females) patients were studied. Overall body mass index was similar between mild and severe cases, although women with severe pancreatitis had lower body mass index (P = 0.04) and men showed higher body mass index (P = 0.05). No difference was found in leptin levels regarding the severity of pancreatitis, but higher levels tended to appear in male patients with increased body mass index and severe pancreatitis (P = 0.1). A multivariate analysis showed no association between leptin levels and severity. The strongest cytokine associated with severity was IL-6. Correlations of leptin with another cytokines only showed a trend for IL-8 (P = 0.058).

CONCLUSION: High body mass index was associated with severity only in males, which may be related to android fat distribution. Serum leptin seems not to play a role on the systemic inflammatory response in acute pancreatitis and its association with severe outcome in males might represent a marker of increased adiposity.

Keywords: Leptin; Cytokines; Obesity; Acute pancreatitis; Prognosis