Leptin, insulin sensitivity and growth hormone binding protein in chronic heart failure with and without cardiac cachexia

Abstract

Fat mass corrected leptin levels are elevated in CHF patients with and without cachexia. Reduced total fat mass may account for lower leptin levels in cachectic CHF patients compared with non cachectic patients. Leptin strongly predicts GHBP levels in CHF regardless of its hyperleptinaemic state or severely altered body composition as in cardiac cachexia. Leptin could be the signalling link between adipose tissue and GHBP/GH receptor expression in CHF.