Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Adiponectin (AdipoQ) is a known insulinsensitizing adipokine which is also present in fetal circulation. It has been postulated to play a role in the regulation of fetal growth and development together with other adipokines. The aim of the study was to determine fetal adiponectin and find its correlations with the neonatal birthweight and maternal AdipoQ.

Patients and methods: The study included 36 women with singleton pregnancy (20 diagnosed with GDM) and their 36 term neonates born by elective cesarean section. Women with chronic disorders were excluded from the study. Laboratory assessment included the routine tests (glucose and insulin concentration) and AdiopoQ level in the maternal blood at delivery and in the umbilical blood of the neonates. AdipoQ levels were determined by human adiponectin ELISA, high sensitivity, and BioVendor.

Results: Maternal AdipoQ was lower in the study group than in the control group, the median with interquartile range were 4.9 ng/ml (4.4–5.8), 5.9 ng/ml (5.1–8.0) respectively (P<0.005); umbilical AdipoQ was significantly higher than the maternal one in both groups 21.9 ng/ml (19.4–29.4) and 31.1 ng/ml (28.1–41.4). Newborns of GDM mothers had significantly lower umbilical AdipoQ levels than those of healthy mothers (P=0.007). No gender differences were found between the neonates. AdipoQ in women with GDM significantly negatively correlated with glycemia at 120 min of OGTT in pregnancy, with insulin, HOMA-IR, HOMA-B, whereas it positively correlated with the QUICKI values. Umbilical AdipoQ significantly negatively correlated with the maternal glycemia at 120 min of OGTT only in women with GDM. No correlations between the fetal AdipoQ and the maternal one or the neonatal birthweight were found.

Conclusions: Umbilical AdipoQ is significantly higher than the maternal one, but it is maternal adiponectin-dependent and shows no significant correlation with the neonatal birthweight. Maternal hyperglycemia may be a vital factor modulating fetal AdipoQ concentration.