Abstract: This study investigated leptin levels of hemodialysis patients and the relation to insulin concentration. Thirty maintenance hemodialysis patients and thirty healthy control subjects were recruited for the study. Blood was drawn after an overnight fast. Serum leptin was measured with a human leptin RIA kit. C-peptide and insulin were all measured with RIA kit. There were also blood tests to measure BUN, creatinine and glucose. Mean serum leptin concentration was significantly higher in the HD group than that of the control(P<0.01). HD group have significantly higher concentrations of C-peptide, BUN and creatinine(P<0.01)than that of the contral group. Leptin levels in both groups correlated positively with BMI, C-peptide and insulin(P<0.05). The data suggests that leptin and C-peptide are markedly increased in HD patients. Serum leptin correlates positively with BMI, C-peptide and insulin.

Key words: hemodialysis, leptin, C-peptide, insulin