J Fac Med Baghdad Vol. 50, No.1, 2008 Original Article J Fac Med Baghdad Vol. 50 , No. 3 , 2008 372 A STUDY OF LEPTIN & LIPID PROFILE IN A SAMPLE OF IRAQI PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS. Kismat M. Turki* , Ph.D Mohammed H. Alosami** , FICMS Zina H. Abdul‐Qahar* , M.B.Ch.B Summary Background: New data suggests that joint damage in Knee Osteoarthritis (KOA) may be caused by systemic factors like adipose tissue products; Adipokines, which may provide a metabolic link between obesity & KOA. Recently, one of the known adipokines named LEPTIN has been linked to KOA because it can be detected in serum & synovial fluid of patients with KOA. Objective: To evaluate the contribution of Leptin & serum lipids to the pathophysiology of Osteoarthritis in Iraqi patients with Knee OA. Subjects& Methods: The study was carried on 90 subjects divided into four groups: Knee OsteoarthriƟs cases group (n=60). Control group (n=30). Obese subjects group (n=60). Non‐obese subjects group (n=30). KOA cases were diagnosed clinically whereas obesity was specified by BMI ≥25kg/m2. For all subjects studied measurements of fasting serum leptin and lipid profile have been done.