Serum Leptin Levels in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients: Data From a Tertiary Care Institution From Kashmir Valley of Northern India

Objective: Leptin has drawn the attention of experts for its role in a myriad of conditions including stroke. However, in the absence of credible evidence linking leptin to stroke, its role as a risk factor is still debatable. We aimed to determine the leptin levels and its relationship with other cardiometabolic risk factors in patients with ischemic stroke in our region.
Materials and Methods: It was a hospital based case-control observational study involving 100 patients and 100 age- and sex- matched healthy controls. Leptin levels were measured in both patients and controls in addition to estimation of lipid profile, insulin level and fasting blood glucose. Insulin resistance was calculated using the homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance model. Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was determined by high-resolution echocolour Doppler system (GE LOGIQ S8). Neuroimaging was also performed. Student’s t-test for continuous variables, chi-square test for categorical variables and Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the correlation of leptin levels with various parameters were used.
Results: The mean leptin levels were significantly higher in patients compared to control group (15.36±5.76 vs. 5.72±1.19 ng/ml; p<0.001). Leptin was found to have positive correlations with atherogenic lipid profile, inflammatory markers i.e, white blood cells and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, fasting plasma glucose and insulin resistance in patients with ischemic stroke whereas there was an inverse correlation between leptin and high density lipoproteins. Similarly leptin was found to have positive association with systolic blood pressure, body mass index and CIMT in patients.
Conclusion: Hyperleptinemia is a common finding in patients with ischemic stroke and is significantly associated with various cardiovascular risk factors known to predispose to ischemic stroke.