Hyperleptinemia positively correlated with metabolic syndrome in renal transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between metabolic syndrome and fasting serum leptin concentration in renal transplant recipients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fasting blood samples were obtained from 55 renal transplant recipients. Metabolic syndrome and its components were defined using the diagnostic criteria of the International Diabetes Federation.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients (23.6%) had metabolic syndrome. Fasting leptin concentrations were positively correlated with metabolic syndrome (p=0.003). Univariate linear regression analysis indicated fasting serum leptin values were positively correlated with waist circumference (r=0.284; p=0.036), body mass index (r=0.358; p=0.007), body fat mass (r=0.610; p<0.001), triglycerides (r=0.268; p=0.048), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (r=0.377; p=0.005), triceps skinfold (r=0.335; p=0.012), and mid-arm fat area (r=0.351; p=0.009). Multivariate forward stepwise linear regression analysis of the significant variables revealed that body fat mass (R2 change=0.373; p<0.001) and hs-CRP (R2 change=0.045; p=0.049) were the independent predictors of fasting serum leptin concentration.

CONCLUSION

Serum leptin concentration correlates positively with metabolic syndrome in renal transplant recipients.