Association of Serum Leptin with Anemia in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

To evaluate the relationship between hyperleptinemia and anemia in hemodialysis patients, we investigated the reverse epidemiological role of leptin in 36 patients (males: 21, diabetics: 11) under regular chronic hemodialysis. The patients had complete blood counts, iron profile, serum leptin, and adequacy of hemodialysis measured. We found a significant positive correlation of serum leptin with hemoglobin level and body mass index (BMI). A trend between serum leptin and total iron binding capacity was observed, however, no correlation was observed with serum ferritin. No differences in these correlations were observed in any subgroup related to gender or diabetes. Our data support previous findings showing that greater serum leptin levels are associated with greater hemoglobin levels.