RESUMO
Introduction: In the literature are found in only a few reports on the role of leptin in the etiology of preterm birth in pregnant women with excessive BMI. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between leptin levels and the prevalence of symptoms of preterm labor as well as assessment of changes in leptin levels depending on the BMI and the effect of leptin on the state of postnatal neonatal determined by Apgar scale. Material and method: Prospective analysis applied to the data obtained from 80 patients hospitalized in the Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology University Hospital in Cracow. The study was prospective and cohort. The study included pregnant single diagnosed with a BMI greater than or equal to 25. Results: It had significantly higher levels of leptin in the group of patients with symptoms of pre-term labor and BMI≥25 compared to lower concentrations of leptin from the group of patients with a BMI <25 (p = 0.01414). It has been found higher levels of plasma leptin in patients with BMI≥25 compared to patients with a BMI <25, in the groups of patients during the nascent (0.0492). Conclusions: Pregnant with symptoms of preterm labor and excessive BMI had higher levels of leptin than women giving birth on time with abnormal, excessive BMI. It was found higher levels of leptin in the group of patients with symptoms of pre-term labor in comparison to the control groups, which may favor the severity of inflammation which is the cause of the symptoms of preterm labor. There was no correlation between the changes in leptin levels during pregnancy and the state natal infants based on the Apgar scale.