Evaluation of Leptin and Resistin Levels in Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

This study was planned to estimate the serum concentration levels of leptin and resistin at diagnosis and after chemotherapy in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Assessment of the pro inflammatory adipocytokines; leptin and resistin were performed at diagnosis and after the entire period of therapy in 20 prepubertal children with ALL, aged 2.5 to 11 years (6.18 ± 2.56). Ten healthy children matched for age, sex, and body mass index served as controls for comparison with anthropometric and blood chemistry parameters. Complete clinical and physical examination were performed for each patient together with, blood picture, lipid profile and body mass index SD score .At diagnosis the mean leptin and resistin levels were high, 20.01±7.01 ng/ml versus 11.15±1.87 ng/ml in controls, (P<0.001) and 5.11±2.09 ng/ml versus 3.09±0.99 ng/ml in controls, (P<0.001) respectively. Whereas, mean levels of leptin and resistin were stabilized after chemotherapy at significantly lower levels (10.5±2.28 ng/ml and 3.26±1.36 ng/ml) respectively. Furthermore, Levels of leptin and resistin were correlated with body mass index SD score at diagnosis and at the end of the maintenance therapy. In addition, serum triglycerides and LDH of ALL patients at diagnosis were higher than those of the controls (P<0.001). Whereas, serum HDL-C of ALL patients was lower than that of the controls at the same point (P<0.001). No such statistical significant difference was detected at the end of maintenance therapy. From this, it can be speculated that acute leukemia-related inflammation and serum hyperlipidaemia may increase leptin and resistin. This increase in levels of leptin and resistin at diagnosis of ALL was progressively restored after therapy. This may represent a new novel non invasive bio marker indicating the responsiveness to chemotherapy in children with ALL.