The findings of a new research published in the journal ′Hypertension′ revealed that preeclampsia is characterised by a midgestational spike in the hormone leptin that puts both the mother and the unborn child in danger. A decrease in appetite, troublesome blood vessel malfunction and growth restriction are the main effects of the hormone level increase.

It also raises the child′s and mother′s lifetime chance of developing cardiovascular disease, which increases the risks of premature birth or even death. Preeclampsia is known to cause an increase in leptin production by the placenta around 20 weeks into a pregnancy, but the effects have not yet been determined. Leptin is therefore acting as a preeclampsia marker that is emerging.

For the first time, new research examining the effects demonstrates that an increase in leptin causes endothelial dysfunction, which causes blood vessels to contract, lose their ability to relax, and limit a baby′s growth. Additionally, the blood vessel constrictor endothelin 1 is also elevated by leptin.

Leptin was injected into pregnant mice during the study to mimic the surge that occurs in preeclampsia, and the results showed an unfavourable chain reaction, with the adrenal gland producing more of the steroid hormone aldosterone, which may be increasing the production of endothelin 1 also by the placenta as well.

Previous studies demonstrated that a leptin infusion causes endothelial dysfunction outside of pregnancy.

The current research suggests that existing medications like eplerenone, a blood pressure medication that binds to the mineralocorticoid receptor effectively lowering the effect of increased levels of aldosterone, may be a helpful therapy to better protect mother and infant. (Hindustan Times, Jun 24, 2022)