Asthma Severity and Serum Leptin Level in Obese Egyptian Children

Background: The relation between leptin and asthma is still unclear especially in obese children. We hypothesized that high serum leptin concentrations would also be associated with asthma in obese Egyptian children. We aimed to evaluate serum leptin concentrations in asthmatic obese and none obese children to investigate their association with asthma and degree of asthma severity.

Subjects and Methods: The study was carried out on 56 Children attended pediatric outpatient clinic of Suez Canal University hospital on Jan, 2016 to Dec 2016. They were divided into three groups (group 1) asthmatic obese children involved 16 child (group 2) asthmatic non- obese child; 20 (group 3) 20 non asthmatic child as control. Diagnosis of asthma was done according to global initiative of asthma. Serum leptin level was assessed in all study groups by ELISA.

Results: Serum leptin levels in obese asthmatic patients was 91.3±9.3 ng/ml ,while in non-obese asthmatics it was 87.8±5.6 ng/ml, finally in non-asthmatic control it was71.3±8.2 ng/ml (P value 0.175). There was positive significant correlation between serum leptin levels and asthma severity (p = <0.001). There was also significant negative association of leptin with peak expiratory flow rate results; There was also significant relation between serum leptin levels and history of allergy as well as family history of asthma (p = <0.001). There was significantly higher body mass index in asthmatics than non-asthmatics (p = 0.004).

Conclusion: Leptin is playing an important role in assessment of asthma severity and is the most predictive factor for asthma severity when compared to body mass index, family history of asthma and history of allergy.