الفهرس 
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Abstract
Leptin, the product of the obesity gene (ob gene), is a 16-kDa peptide hormone synthesized and secreted by adipocytes. Leptin affects many physiological and metabolic pathways, including the regulation of body weight, energy expenditure, endocrine functions, reproduction, blood pressure, inflammation and immunoregulation.
Psoriasis is considered a T-cell-mediated inflammatory skin disease, with a preponderance of type 1 cytokines. Because leptin promotes type 1 cytokine synthesis and suppresses type 2 cytokine production, we speculate that leptin might play a role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.
In this study, we measured serum leptin levels in psoriatic patients to elucidate its correlation with psoriasis, patients with other dermatological diseases, their BMI and PASI scores; in comparison to controls.
• Circulating levels of leptin are proportional to BMI and vary greatly between men and women.
• Leptin levels in females were, consistent with previous reports, significantly higher than those in males.
• Leptin levels in psoriatic patients were also significantly higher than those in controls.
• Leptin levels in patients with other dermatological disease were significantly higher than control.
• PASI scores correlated positively with BMI of psoriatic patients, but not with leptin levels.
• Our study is the first in our knowledge to find a positive correlation between leptin levels in psoriatic patients with BMI less than 30.
In conclusion, this study has agreed with published results considering the fact that leptin might play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and other dermatological diseases through promoting synthesis of type 1 cytokines and inhibiting that of type 2 cytokines. In contrast to other studies that always stated the co-existence of higher leptin levels only with obesity.