Association between the maternal serum resistin, maternal serum visfatin levels and gestational diabetes mellitus

Introduction: Gestational diabetes mellitus is manifested by variable degrees of glucoseintolerance diagnosed after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Adipose tissue derived hormonesadiponectin, resistin, visfatin are thought to play role in the pathophysiology besides thecounter regulatory anti-insulin steroid hormones such as placental lactogen, cortisol andestrogen. Resistin causes insulin resistance by decreasing cellular glucose uptake and insulinsensitivity. However, visfatin displays insulinomimetic activity by binding to insulinreceptors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between the maternal serumresistin and maternal visfatin levels and gestational diabetes. Materials and methods: 80women with singleton pregnancies attending to Duzce University Hospital Obstetricsoutpatient clinic for routine obstetric care were included in the study between the January2012 – July 2012. Women were screened and diagnosed by 50 g screening test and 100gdiagnostic test between the 24-28th gestational weeks. 40 women diagnosed with gestationaldiabetes mellitus and 40 non-diabetic women constituted the study and control groups,respectively. Groups were compared for maternal serum resistin and visfatin levels, HbA1c,HOMA-IR, and postpartum 75 g OGTT. Results: Mean serum resistin (p=0.071) and visfatin(p=0.194) levels statistically similar between the groups. However, mean BMI (p=0.013),HOMA-IR (p=0.019), HbA1c (p<0.0001) and birth weight (p=0.037) values weresignificantly in gestational diabetes group compared to controls. Type 2 diabetes and impairedglucose tolerance were detected in 2(5%) and 7(20%) women, respectively with 75 g glukoztolerans test performed at postpartum 6th week. Resistin levels in pregnancy were foundhigher in women with postpartum glucose intolerance compared to women with nopostpartum glucose intolerance(p=0.012).Conclusion: Maternal serum resistin and visfatinlevels were found to be unchanged in gestational diabetes mellitus. Serum resistinmeasurement during pregnancy may be predictive for postpartum glucose intolerance.Key words: Gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, resistin, visfatin