The Role of Leptin in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Is It Still a Mystery?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory connective tissue disease with varying clinical manifestations. Recent studies have proposed that leptin may be related to SLE development. This study aims to assess current information regarding the relationship between leptin and SLE. A systematic search was done using PubMed, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Epistemonikos, and Cochrane Library databases. Studies published in the English language in the last 10 years were selected based on predefined eligibility criteria. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and the Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 tool. A total of 12 studies were included in this systematic review. These included systematic reviews/meta-analyses, cross-sectional studies, and case-control studies. Based on the findings of this review, we conclude thatleptin is significantly elevated in SLE patients; however, it does not seem to correlate with disease activity. The exact mechanism of leptin in the pathogenesis of the disease remains unknown and further research is needed regarding this aspect.