Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests: Pathways to Arriving at a Clinical Diagnosis (1051 page)

   Erythroblastosis fetalis

   Possible exceptions

   Intrauterine growth retardation

   Toxemia of pregnancy

   Hydrops fetalis

   Placental disease

   Abruptio placentae

   Foam (shake) test

LEPTIN

   Definition

   Serum leptin level is associated with appetite and energy expenditure in healthy individuals. Leptin is produced primarily in fat cells and also in the placenta and probably in the stomach. Serum leptin concentrations are highly correlated with body fat content. These processes are stimulated by insulin, glucocorticoids, and tumor necrosis factor–alpha, another product of adipocytes. These observations suggest that leptin signals the brain about the quantity of stored fat.

   
Normal range:

   Male: 0.5–12.7 ng/mL

   Female: 3.9–30.0 ng/mL