Role of Serum Irisin During Early Pregnancy to Predict The Development of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus at 24-28 Weeks of Pregnancy in High-risk Patients

Aims: The aim of this prospective study was to investigate the role of serum irisin during early pregnancy to predict the development of GDM at 24-28 weeks in high-risk patients.

Methodology: This study was conducted among the pregnant women attending the Department of Endocrinology and antenatal clinic of Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of MKCG Medical College for a period of one year with at least one risk factor for the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Blood samples were collected for measurement of fasting plasma glucose, serum insulin, serum irisin, lipids (TC, LDL, HDL, TG), and HbA1c. Oral glucose tolerance test was performed using 75 g of glucose during the first trimester and between 24-28 weeks of pregnancy. Patients were diagnosed as GDM based upon IADPSG criteria at 24-28 weeks. Serum irisin, glycemic parameters, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance during first trimester were analyzed for predicting GDM between 24-28 weeks.

Results: Sixty-five patients were included in the study, out of which 20 (30.8%) patients developed GDM and the rest 45 patients had normal glucose tolerance (NGT). The first trimester mean serum irisin concentration was significantly lower in women who later developed GDM compared with women who had NGT (111.65 ± 25.43 μg/L vs 185.89 ± 28.89 μg/L). Serum irisin concentration was the best predictor with an optimal threshold value of 149 μg/L, which had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of 90%, 91.1%, 81.8%, 95.3%, respectively, for predicting GDM at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy.

Conclusion: We suggest the utility of serum irisin as an early biomarker to predict the development of GDM later in pregnancy in high-risk patients.