Aim To explore the changes of leptin and soluble leptin receptor(SLR)in patients with chronic heart failure(CHF),the relationship between leptin and NYHA grades and the value of serum leptin in predicating short-term prognosis of patients with CHF.Methods One hundred and twenty patients with CHF and 30 normal controls were included.Serum leptin and insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay(RIMA),SLR by enzyme linked immnuoabsorbent assay(ELISA).Follow up was carried out for 8-12 months.Endpoint events included death and readmission.Kaplan-meirer and COX regression model were employed in prognositc analysis.Results Compared with the control group,CHF group had significantly increased serum leptin and SLR level(12.4±3.0 vs 6.3±2.0 μg/L,p<0.01;42.40±10.0 vs 25.6±10.7 μg/L,p<0.01 respectively).No statistical difference of serum leptin level was found among groups of NYHA grade Ⅱ、Ⅲ and Ⅳ(14.0±1.6 μg/L,12.8±1.0 μg/L,10.8±1.3 μg/L;p>0.05).Kaplan-meier analysis revealed a better survival curve of group with low leptin level than that of group with high leptin level(P=0.044).COX regression model showed that leptin was a significant short-term prognosis predictor(Standard regression coefficient 0.112,p<0.05).Conclusion Patients with CHF have elevated serum levels of leptin and soluble leptin receptor.Serum leptin level is valuable in predicating short-term prognosis of CHF.