Serum leptin and biochemical parameters .for assessment of growth and nutritional status of children with cerebral plasy in tanta, mid-delta Egypt

الملخص EN

Background: children with cerebral palsy (CP) are generally undernourished and growth-retarded than normal children.

The reasons of malnutrition are not only due to poor nutritional status but also due to non-nutritional factors including negative neurotropic effects and indirect factors such as immobility, endocrinal abnormalities or spasticity that increase energy requirements.

Several studies indicated that lepton which is produced by adipocytes, might regulate energy intake and expenditure. Aim : the aim of this study is to determine serum lepton levels in children with CP and to investigate the relationship between their nutritional status, biochemical parameters and anthropometric measurements. Methods: Parameters determined were albumin, prealbumin, retinol-binding protein, transferring, ferritin, iron, calcium, phosphorus, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase, and transaminases.

A preliminary statistical analysis indicated that most information could be maintained taking in consideration only first five of these variables.

A factor analysis of the resulting 5 x 100 variables by subject data matrix was then performed, identifying three factors (FBI, FB2 and FB3) that together explained more than 75% of total variance.

Taking these factors as indicators of nutritional status, the data were then analyzed for possible effects of age, gender socioeconomic and family environment, presence / absence of mental retardation quality of diet, appetite and use of antiepileptic's. Results : there was a positive, significant correlation between lepton and anthropometric measurements, especially TST in children with CP.

Serum lepton levels were also lower in non-ambulatory children than ambulatory children with CP (p<0.05). Conclusion : this study proved that triceps skin fold thickness is a good index of nutritional status in children with CP.

Serum lepton levels were lower in CP group and may not only related with malnutrition, but also immobility related other factors such as bone metabolism and spasticity so it is a sensitive index of nutritional status of children with CP.