Leptin plays a promoting role in angiogenesis and the vascular endothelium express the long form of leptin receptor, therefore, the aim of the work was to assess the plasma level of leptin in hypertensive patients and to evaluate the relationship between its concentration and hypertension. and hypertensive retinopathy, also to assess its relation to body mass index.
This study was carried out on 50 patients with essential hypertension and 25 normal healthy, age and sex matched control subjects. Patients with essential hypertension were classified into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of retinopathy, 25 patients without hypertensive retinopathy (Group II a) and 25 patients with hypertensive retinopathy (Group II b).
The study showed significantly very higher serum leptin in group II and its subgroups ( II a and II b) compared to those of the control (Group I), despite no significant difference was detected between the three groups (group I ,II a and II b) regarding age, sex and body mass index. Also no significant deference was detected between hypertensive group without retinopathy and hypertensive retinopathy group as regard mean blood pressure.
Positive correlation between serum leptin level and mean blood pressure among all groups was found. Also positive correlation between serum leptin level and body mass index (BMI) among all groups.