The relation of cord and neonatal apelin,visfatin,endoglin and vascular endothelial growth factor levels with birth weight and maternal risk factors

Intrauterine growth depends on the maternal, placental, fetal and environmental factors. Apelin and visfatin are newly described adipocytokines. Previous studies, beside investigating the role of adipokine in whole body metabolism, have searched their association with intrauterine growth. Angiogenic factors such as endoglin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) play a crucial role in the growth and development.The objectives of present study is to investigate the levels of fetal and neonatal plasma apelin, serum endoglin, visfatin and vascular endothelial growth factor and to show their relation with birth weight and maternal risk factors.Eighty five neonates were enrolled and divided into six groups. There were 13 neonates in small for gestational age (SGA) group, 11 neonates in appropriate for gestational age (AGA) group, 19 neonates in large for gestational age (LGA) group, 12 neonates of preeclamptic mothers, 18 neonates of mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), 12 LGA neonates of mothers with GDM. Plasma apelin, serum endoglin, visfatin and VEGF levels were determined in umbilical cord (representing the foetal state) sample and neonatal venous blood sample in the postnatal 4th hour.There were no significant differences between fetal and neonatal plasma apelin and serum endoglin levels in all six groups. Fetal plasma apelin levels of preeclamptic group were significantly lower than that of SGA and LGA groups. Fetal plasma apelin levels in LGA groups were significantly higher than GDM group.The neonatal serum visfatin levels were significantly higher than fetal levels in SGA, preeclamptic and GDM groups. Neonatal serum visfatin levels in SGA groups were significantly higher than the values of LGA and preeclamptic groups. Neonatal serum visfatin levels in all infants with gestational diabetic mothers were significantly higher than AGA controls. Both fetal and neonatal serum endoglin levels of SGA groups were significantly higher than the values of AGA controls.In all neonates fetal serum VEGF levels correlated negatively with birth weight. Fetal serum VEGF levels were significantly higher than the neonatal levels of SGA group.Neonatal plasma apelin levels correlated negatively with neonatal serum visfatin levels and VEGF levels.Further studies are needed about the relation of adipokines and angiogenic factors with fetal and postnatal growth and also with maternal diseases like preeclampsia and GDM.Key words: apelin, visfatin, endoglin, vascular endothelial growth factor, birth weight, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus