The Correlation between Serum Level of Leptin and Troponin in Children with Major Beta-Thalassemia.

Background: Polypeptide hormone Leptin suppresses inflammation in the heart muscle and protects heart from diseases. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the relationship between leptin and troponin serum levels with cardiac involvement in patients with major beta thalassemia.

Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional study, 70 children with major thalassemia were selected. Two ml blood was taken as sample from all children and after separating serum; the samples were maintained in -20°C temperature. Then, regarding cold chain conditions, the sample were sent to the Biochemistry Lab. Afterwards, leptin and troponin serum levels with the relevant kits and BMI were measured in all children, and information about age and gender was recorded. Collected data were analyzed with SPSS.

Results: The mean of leptin in girls and boys were 2.47 ± 3.13 and 0.96 ± 1.08 respectively which showed a significant difference (t=2.74, p =0.009). A significant correlation was also observed between BMI and leptin (r = 0.374, P = 0.002). Another significant association was found between leptin and age (r = 0.248, P = 0.041). However, a significant inverse correlation between serum ferritin and age (r = - 0.607, P = 0.0001) was discovered. No correlation was found between leptin, troponin, and ferritin.

Conclusion: Since Leptin increases with the advent of cardiac involvement and independent from troponin T, it can be a predictive marker of cardiac involvement in patients with major beta thalassemia.