Thyroid stimulating hormone and leptin levels and severe growth retardation among beta- thalassemic patients

Abstract

Objective: It has been proposed that Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) influences leptin secretion from adipocytes. We evaluated the association between TSH and leptin levels in thalassemic patients with growth retardation. Methodology: Blood samples were collected from 30 major thalassemic patients and 24 normal subjects (range: 12 -20 y). Both Leptin and TSH were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The anthropometric data were collected based on standard methods. Independent sample t-test and Pearson's correlation were used to analyze data. Results: Patients had severe growth retardation. Mean concentration of leptin in thalassemic patients was significantly lower than normal subjects (2.26 +/- 2.61 vs 13.14 +/- 15.95 ng/ml). The mean value of serum TSH concentration in beta- thalassemic patients was higher than normal subjects. But the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.146). There was no marked relationships between TSH and leptin concentrations in thalassemic patients (r = -0.022, P = 0.909) and in control group (r=0.289, P=0.214). Conclusion: In both beta- thalassemic patients and normal group leptin secretion is not affected by TSH concentration.