Leptin, insulin like growth factor-1 and thyroid profile In a studied sample of Egyptian children with down Syndrome

Abstract EN

Background : Several mechanisms have been suggested for obesity in Down syndrome.

Aim of the study : Assessment of serum levels of leptin, insulin like growth factor-I (IGF-I), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxin (FT4) in a prepubertal Egyptian sample of children with DS compared to their age and sex matched healthy controls and sibs of some of them.

Subjects and methods : A prospective case control study was conducted on 80 children, classified as follows : Groups I & II : enrolled 20 cases with DS for each, sibs were studied only for group I, Group III : 20 healthy siblings of group I, and Group IV : 20 healthy controls.

Anthropometric measurements, serum leptin, IGF-1, TSH, and FT4 assessment using enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) were carried out for all studied children.

Results : DS children whether with studied sibs or without studied sibs had significantly higher mean values of leptin levels compared to sibs of group I & IV (P = 0.0001 for all).

Meanwhile, mean values of IGF-I showed statistically insignificant differences between all studied groups (p > 0.05 for all).

Studied DS children whether with studied sibs or without studied sibs had significantly higher mean values of TSH levels compared to sibs of group I and controls (P = 0.0001 for all).

Mean values of FT4 were significantly higher in enrolled DS without their studied sibs compared to sibs of group I (p = 0.01), while mean values of FT4 were significantly lower in sibs of group I compared to controls (p = 0.001).