Peritoneal fluid and serum leptin levels in women with infertility

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between serum and peritoneal fluid levels of leptin and female infertility. Study design This was a cross-sectional study. Patients and methods The current study was carried out at the Ain Shams University Maternity Hospital during the period between October 2009 and September 2010. The study included infertile women planned for diagnostic or operative laparoscopy as part of infertility workup and management. Venous blood samples for checking basal serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, as well as leptin were withdrawn from the study group on day 3 of a spontaneous menstrual cycle or progestin-withdrawal bleeding. On the day of laparoscopy, peritoneal fluid was aspirated through an abdominal port from the vesicouterine and Douglas pouches. The clotted blood samples and aspirated peritoneal fluid were centrifuged at 300g for 5 min; sera were stored at −70°C for hormonal assays. Results A total of 45 women were included in the study. The mean age of the women was 29.02±3.93 years. The mean BMI was 25.49±2.76 kg/m2. The mean serum level of leptin in all included women was 16.85±3.81 ng/ml. The mean peritoneal fluid level of leptin in all included women was 30.09±5.47 ng/ml. Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome had significantly higher mean serum leptin level, whereas women with endometriosis had significantly higher mean peritoneal fluid leptin level when compared with other etiologies. There was no significant correlation between either serum or peritoneal fluid leptin concentration and age. Conclusion Leptin may be an active factor in the pathogenesis of polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometriosis, which are two major causes of primary infertility.