Objective:To explore the changes of serum leptin in chronic congestive heart failure(CHF).Methods:The serum levels of leptin in 46 patients with NYHA cardiac function class Ⅰ and in 39 patients with CHF(14 in class Ⅱ

21 in class Ⅲ and 4 in class Ⅳ)were assessed by radioimmunoassay.Results:The serum contents of leptin were 11.674±6.911μg/l in NYHA class Ⅰ group

11.492±5.649 μg/l in classⅡ group

7.763±3.321 μg/l in class Ⅲ group

6.100± 2.657 μg/l in class Ⅳ group and 9.018±4.519 μg/l in CHF group.The serum levels of leptin were significantly lower in class Ⅲ group

class Ⅳ group and CHF group

compared with class Ⅰ group

respectively( t =2.185～2.786

P <0.05).Compared with class Ⅱ group

the levels of leptin were also significantly lower in class Ⅲ group and class Ⅳ group

respectively( t =2.605～2.174

P <0.05).The decrease of serum leptin level was significantly correlated with the decreased serum total cholesterol level

triglyceride

body mass index and left ventricular ejection fraction in all groups

respectively( r =0.564～0.999

P <0.05).Conclusion:The role of the decreased serum leptin in CHF remains to be studied.