Nasrin Dashti, Nahid Einollahi, Fariba Nabatchian.
Leptin and Interleukin-6 in end-stage renal disease.
Pak J Med Sci Jan ;24(4):694-7.

Objective: Leptin, the product of ob gene, is important in control of appetite in humans. The objective was to determine the pre and post serum leptin levels in patients with ESRD (undergoing hemodialysis), to compare the pre serum leptin levels in patients with ESRD and normal healthy controls and to determine the serum IL-6 levels among patients with ESRD before and after hemodialysis. Methodology: We measured the pre-and post dialysis leptin levels in hemodialysis patients (n=78) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) with normal volunteers (n=78). Also plasma interleukin-6 was measured pre-and post dialysis in ESRD patients. Results: Mean serum leptin levels were significantly higher in ESRD patients than in normal control subjects (38.22 ± 6.25 vs. 7.1± 4.38ng/ml, respectively, P<0.01). Serum leptin post-dialysis levels were significantly greater than pre-dialysis levels (44. 78± 5.85 vs. 38.22± 6.25ng/ml, respectively, P<0.05). Post dialysis IL-6 levels was significantly greater than predialysis levels (14.7± 4.6 vs. 9± 4.9pg/ml, respectively, P<0.01). Conclusion: Kidney contributes to clearance of circulating leptin in humans. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the significance of these elevated leptin levels in patients with end-stage renal disease.

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