The relation of serum leptin to body mass index and to serum cortisol in men with spinal cord injury

Objective: To investigate the relations among serum leptin, body mass index (BMI), and various hormone levels in men with spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: University hospital that is a tertiary referral center. Participants: Forty-seven men with traumatic neurologically complete SCI and 47 age- and BMI-matched male controls. Main Outcome Measures: Baseline levels of various hormones were measured in subjects with SCI. Serum leptin and cortisol levels and BMI were measured in both groups. Results: Serum leptin was significantly higher in the group with SCI than in the control group. A linear relation was found between serum leptin and BMI in both groups separately. A polynomial relation was found between serum leptin level and BMI in the group with SCI. A 'J' phenomenon is noted at the lowest BMI. Serum cortisol correlated significantly with serum leptin level in the group with SCI. Conclusion: Sympathetic denervation, peripheral nerve palsy, recurrent infections, and possible central neurotransmitter alterations after SCI may contribute to the elevation of serum leptin level in men with SCI. (C) 2000 by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.