Objective: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder that frequently affects elderly population worldwide. Initially, PD was known as a motor disorder but in the last decade, several studies have emphasized on impact of non-motor symptoms such as depression, constipation, pain and sexual difficulties which affect quality of life. Also, some studies indicated patient with Parkinson disease have weight loss and reduced Body Mass Index (BMI).

Background: Previous studies showed leptin serum levels in patient with PD were lower than healthy controls, though the correlation of weight loss and leptin levels was not confirmed. Also, some studies showed that patients with PD have lower Body Mass Index (BMI) and serum leptin concentrations compared with healthy controls. However, there is not any statistically significant correlation between serum leptin levels and BMI and this correlation are still obscure.

Methods: Thirty five eligible patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (25 men and 10 women) and fifty one healthy people (28 men and 23 women) who were matched for sex and age, studied as control grou, were recuirted in this study. The participants who were not ambulatary, with systemic disorder, and those treated with medications influencing nutritional state and that involved BMI were excluded. Motor and non-motor symptoms of PD patients evaluated using Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) parts I, II, III and IV. Clinical status of the patients assessed by Hoehn and Yahr scale (HA scale). Cognitive state of patients surveyed using Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Also, body mass index (BMI) of patients and healthy controls (HCs) was calculated. Serum Leptin levels were measured by a leptin radioimmunoassay.

Results: The mean age of PD patients and HCs were 59.8±11.4 and 62.18±11.6 years, respectively. Serum leptin concentration was not statistically different between PD patients and HCs (21.1±23.1 ng/ml vs 25.9±21.8 ng/ml, P=0.28). There was no relation between plasma level of leptin and clinical severity of patients with PD.

Conclusions: Although several studies have showed correlation between leptin level and PD, but our study showed there is not any significant difference between leptin level in PD and control group, and there is not any correlation between serum leptin level and disease severity.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/serum-leptin-levels-in-iranian-patients-with-parkinsons-disease/