Obesity is a world-wide health problem, whose incidence and prevalence are rising
steadily; it may be combined with hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia,
atherosclerosis, and/or chronic renal failure. Among these, hypertension has been
observed in roughly 50% of obese individuals, which has led researchers to consider
obesity as one of the most common causes of hypertension. The mechanisms linking
obesity to hypertension have not been fully cleared. The present study aimed to clarify
the interaction of leptin, soluble leptin receptors and the atrial natriuretic peptide in
obese hypertensive patients. The study was performed on seventy five female subjects
who were classified into three groups: group I (n=15) healthy lean controls, group II
(n=30) obese normotensive patients, and group III (n=30) obese hypertensive
patients. All participants were subjected to a thorough clinical assessment, and
estimation of serum levels of glucose, creatinine, urea, cholesterol, leptin, soluble
leptin receptors (sLR), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). The serum levels of leptin
and ANP were significantly higher in obese hypertensive and obese normotensive
patients than in the controls, also, these levels were significantly higher in obese
hypertensive patients when compared to obese normotensive patients. The serum sLR
level in obese hypertensive and obese normotensive patients was significantly lower
than in the controls, while its level in obese hypertensive patients was significantly
lower than in obese normotensive patients. In the whole studied groups, the serum
leptin and ANP levels were positively correlated, significantly, with BMI, diastolic
blood pressure, and systolic blood pressure, but their levels were negatively
correlated significantly with sLR. The serum sLR level was, significantly, negatively
correlated with BMI, diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure, leptin and
ANP.