The relationship of metabolic syndrome, serum leptin levels and treatment in bipolar disorder

Objective: In this study we aimed to evaluate the relationship between serum leptin. levels, metabolic syndrome and treatment in bipolar patients. Method: Sixty bipolar I disorder (BD) patients were enrolled; 29 patients were on mood stabilizer (MS) (lithium, valproic acid, carbamazepin, and lamotrigine) treatment, 31 patients were on atypical antipsychotics (AA) (risperidone, quetiapine, and olanzapine) for at least 3 months. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) was evaluated according to NCEP ATP III (Adult Treatment Protocol of the National Cholesterol Education Programme) criteria. Results: 36.7% of the patients were recognized as MetS. The AA subgroup had significantly more MetS than MS. Abdominal obesity was significantly correlated with leptin levels in BD. No significant association was found between MetS and leptin levels in BD. Discussion: AA taking bipolar patients had higher MetS rates. However, there was no significant difference among AAs for inducing MetS. Leptin levels were significantly correlated with abdominal obesity in bipolar patients but seem not to be associated with MetS.