Fetal and maternal leptin in pre-gestational diabetic pregnancy

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics Vol. 120; no. 2; pp. 169 - 172
• Main Authors: Higgins, Mary F, Russell, Noirin M, Brazil, Derek P, Firth, Richard G, McAuliffe, Fionnuala M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.02.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Birth Weight; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 - blood; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - blood; Female; Fetal Blood - metabolism; Fetal growth; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Insulin Resistance; Leptin; Leptin - blood; Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy in Diabetics - blood; Prospective Studies; Young Adult; Fetal growth; Pregnancy; Diabetes; Leptin; Adipocytokine; Mother; Growth; Gynecology; Fetus; Gestational diabetes; Obstetrics
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2012.08.025

Abstract Objective To compare maternal and fetal leptin among women without diabetes, women with type 1 diabetes, and women with type 2 diabetes. Methods In a prospective study at the National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, 40 women with type 1 diabetes, 10 with type 2 diabetes, and 30 without diabetes were enrolled between July 2006 and July 2008. Maternal (36-week) and cord blood leptin was measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay. Results No difference was found in maternal leptin among the groups: without diabetes (mean, range): 325 pg/mL, 36–1492 pg/mL; type 1 diabetes: 343.2 pg/mL, 55.5–1108.2 pg/mL; type 2 diabetes: 202.2 pg/mL, 35.1–1553.3 pg/mL ( P > 0.05). Leptin levels were higher among fetuses of women with type 1 (223 pg/mL, 25.7–810 pg/mL) and type 2 (447.2 pg/mL, 136.3–679 pg/mL) diabetes than among women without diabetes (80.3 pg/mL, 27.3–623.1 pg/mL; P < 0.05). The single significant predictor of fetal leptin for the whole cohort was maternal body mass index (BMI; r = 0.39, P = 0.01). Only third-trimester glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was significantly related to fetal leptin after controlling for maternal BMI among women with diabetes ( r = 0.28, P = 0.04). Conclusion Fetuses of women with diabetes might have some degree of leptin resistance. This might be important in appetite regulation in extrauterine life.