The dynamical interplay of perinatal leptin with birthweight and 3-month weight, in full-term, preterm, IUGR mother-infant dyads.

To evaluate the dynamical interplay between perinatal leptin concentrations and neonatal weight evolution until 3 months of age. In a prospective observational study, maternal, cord blood and neonatal plasma leptin concentrations were correlated to birthweight and 3-month weight in 26 full-term, 20 preterm, and 17 intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) mother-neonate couples. The median of maternal, cord blood, neonatal leptin concentrations were significantly different among the three groups ( Our results showed that maternal leptin levels lost their influence on neonatal weight when considering confounders. At 3-month, once birthweight adjusted, the percent increasing of weight was statistically larger in preterm and IUGR than the full-term group and the correlation between cord blood leptin and weight turned negative, from positive at birth. These data may be a clue for further investigation on the relationship between perinatal leptin concentrations and catch-up growth.