Purpose: To determine the range of plasma leptin levels in patients with floppy eyelid syndrome (FES).
Methods: This was a retrospective, noninterventional case series of 11 patients with FES. Charts were reviewed for patient age, sex, plasma leptin level, body mass index (BMI), presence or absence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and diabetes mellitus, and any treatments for OSA.
Results: Charts of 11 patients were reviewed (10 male, 1 female). Plasma leptin levels were elevated in 7 of 11 patients (64%). Mean plasma leptin concentration was 49.5 ng/ml in male patients (range, 5 to 120 ng/ml) compared with a normal range of 1 to 35 ng/ml. Plasma leptin level in the female patient was 180 ng/ml (normal range, 4 to 72 ng/ml). Five patients had a known diagnosis of OSA. Four of these patients received continuous positive airway pressure during leptin level measurement. Plasma leptin levels averaged 110.0 ng/ml in the continuous positive airway pressure group. Average BMI was 37.4 kg/m (range, 24.9 to 57.1 kg/m). All patients with elevated leptin levels had a high BMI.
Conclusions: Patients with FES demonstrate elevated plasma leptin levels, which correlate with BMI. Hyperleptinemia may play a role in the pathogenesis of FES.