Abstract: Objective To investigate the correlation between serum leptin and atherosclerosis and arterial vasodilation in maintenance hemodialysis patients.Methods Fifty maintenance hemodialysis patients and thirty healthy volunteers were enrolled in the study.The levels of serum leptin were determined with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.Intima-media thickness(IMT) and prevalence atherosclerotic plaques of the extracranial common carotid artery were measured with high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography.The changes in brachial artery diameter during reactive hyperemia were analyzed with ultrasonic examination.Results Both men and women serum leptin levels in hemodialysis patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls(men(6.13±2.41)μg/L vs(3.25±1.98)μg/L;women(8.98±3.12)μg/L vs(5.79±2.01)μg/L,(P<0.01)).Compared with those in controls,the mean IMT value,percentage of thickened IMT and prevalence of atherosclerotic plaques in hemodialysis patients were significantly increased,while the changes in brachial artery diameter during reactive hyperemia were significantly decreased(P<0.01).Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that serum leptin was an independent risk factor associated with IMT and changes in brachial artery diameter during reactive hyperemia.Conclusion The level of serum leptin in patients with maintenance hemodialysis is associated with the development of atherosclerosis and dysfunction of arterial vasodilation.Hyperleptinemia may be an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with maintenance hemodialysis.

Key words: leptin, maintenance hemodialysis, atherosclerosis