Maternal and Cord Blood Apelin, Resistin and Visfatin Levels in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Aim: The aim of this paper was to investigate maternal and cord blood apelin, resistin and visfatin concentrations in pregnant women with and without gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 24 women with GDM and 21 women without GDM. Maternal plasma and cord blood apelin, resistin and visfatin levels were measured with ELISA.

Results: The cord blood apelin levels were significantly lower in women with GDM than control subjects (111.23±31.53 vs.. 257.48±133.97 pg/mL, P=0.002). However, the decrease of maternal apelin levels in GDM group was not statistically significant (140.76±48.38 vs. 163.53±91.12 pg/mL, P=0.602). Women with GDM had lower maternal and cord blood visfatin concentrations and higher resistin concentrations than control group. Maternal resistin concentrations were significantly correlated with HOMA-IR (r=0.745, P=0.005). The apelin and visfatin levels did not correlate with HbA1c, BMI, HOMA-IR, glucose and birth weight.

Conclusion: GDM is associated with lower cord blood apelin levels than control subjects. GDM appears to influence fetoplacental apelin metabolism. Apelin may not be directly involved in the regulation of maternal insulin sensitivity. Our results indicate that there is an increase in resistin concentrations and a decrease in visfatin concentrations in maternal serum and cord blood serum with GDM.