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Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry 2010; 01(03): 209-215
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1586376
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Serum leptin levels among malnourished children with and without pneumonia

Mohammed Al Biltagi
a   Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
,
Ahmed Abdul Baset
a   Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
,
Adel Hagag
a   Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
,
Hesham Al Srogi
b   Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
› Author Affiliations
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Further Information

Publication History

01 July 2010

12 October 2010

Publication Date:
01 August 2016 (online)

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Abstract

The aim was to evaluate the serum leptin level in children with protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) with and without pneumonia. The study included 60 children; 20 were controls, 20 had PEM without infection and 20 had PEM and pneumonia. They were subjected to nutritional assessments; serum leptin level, haemoglobin concentration, white-blood cell (WBC) count, CD4%, serum albumin, blood glucose, blood urea-nitrogen, and serum ferritin, and chest x-ray. Serum leptin levels were independently associated with pneumonia on multivariate analysis. In addition, serum leptin level and CD4% were significantly lower in the groups with PEM and pneumonia than in the group with PEM without pneumonia (p < 0.001). Low serum leptin levels were associated with pneumonia in children with protein energy malnutrition.

Keywords

Protein-energy malnutrition - leptin - CD4% - marasmus - kwashiorkor