Serum leptin levels in patients with allergic rhinitis.

Abstract

To investigate the serum leptin levels in patients with allergic rhinitis during the symptomatic period. A randomized, prospective study was performed on 26 adult patients with allergic rhinitis and 20 control subjects with similar age, sex and body mass index in a tertiary otolaryngology center. Leptin levels were 28.8 +/- 14.1 ng/mL in the patients with allergic rhinitis, and 20.8 +/- 13.5 ng/mL in the control group respectively. The difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = 0.04). Serum leptin levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with allergic rhinitis in symptomatic period. Apart from its primary role in the regulation of body weight and energy expenditure, leptin may have a role in the inflammatory process of the allergic rhinitis.