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. 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). 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. 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.