Excessive body weight gain, hyperprolactinemia and low gonadal steroid serum levels
are often observed during chronic administration of antipsychotic drugs (AP). Clinical
and experimental findings suggest that leptin, the peptidic hormone involved in long-term
body weight regulation, and reproductive hormones are interrelated. Therefore, we
assessed circulating leptin levels in healthy, lean women (n = 12) and men (n = 7)
before and after short-term administration of the AP sulpiride (SUL, 200 mg/day).
In addition, we studied psychotic obese (n = 9) and lean women (n = 13) under chronic
treatment with diverse AP. No significant weight changes were observed after SUL administration
in healthy women - initial weight: 54.9 ± 2.6 Kg; final weight: 55.04 ± 2.6, NS. Leptin
levels did not change either: 11.9 ± 1.5 ng/ml. vs. 10.6 ± 1.3, NS. By contrast, a
small, but significant weight gain was found in SUL-treated men - 60.6 ± 1.9 Kg. vs.
61.3 ± 2.1, p = 0.004. Leptin and insulin levels were significantly higher after SUL
administration - leptin: 2.77 ± 0.22 ng/ml. vs. 13.9 ± 2.5, p = 0.035; insulin: 3.59
± 0.17, mIU/ml vs. 8.81 ± 0.81, p = 0.0001. In these subjects, leptin levels positively
correlated with body weight change (p = 0.006), and serum prolactin change (p = 0.001).
Obese psychotic women (Body Mass Index, BMI, Kg/m2 = 31.5 ± 1.03) displayed higher leptin levels than non-obese psychotic women (BMI
= 25.5 ± 0.52): 26.8 ± 4.8, vs. 12.8 ± 3.4 ng/ml, p = 0.006. In these women, a significant
positive correlation was found between leptin levels and BMI (p = 0.0001), and between
leptin and basal insulin levels (p = 0.001). These results show that the expected
circulating leptin elevation which is observed when body weight raises, is preserved
in people treated with AP drugs.
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Trino Baptista
Apartado 93
Mérida, 5101-A
Venezuela
Email: conru@ing.ula.ve