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Published on: June 29, 2013
Perinatal circulating visfatin levels in intrauterine growth restriction
Ariadne Malamitsi-Puchner1, Despina D Briana, Maria Boutsikou
1Neonatal Division, Second Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens University, Athens, Greece. amalpu@aretaieio.uoa.gr
Insights
Maternal and neonatal visfatin levels are elevated in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction. Higher visfatin in newborns may predict future insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Metabolic Research
- Perinatal Medicine
Background:
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) impacts fetal nutrition and metabolic development.
- Visfatin, an adipocytokine, plays a role in metabolic and endocrine regulation.
- Altered visfatin levels may be associated with pregnancy complications like IUGR.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate circulating visfatin levels in pregnancies complicated by IUGR.
- To compare visfatin concentrations between mothers and neonates with IUGR and those with appropriate-for-gestational-age infants.
- To explore the potential of visfatin as a marker in IUGR.
Main Methods:
- Prospective measurement of serum visfatin by enzyme immunoassay.
- Study included 40 mothers and 40 singleton neonates (20 IUGR, 20 appropriate for gestational age).
- Visfatin levels assessed on postnatal days 1 and 4; insulin levels on postnatal day 1.
Main Results:
- Maternal visfatin levels were significantly higher in IUGR pregnancies.
- Neonatal visfatin levels on postnatal days 1 and 4 were elevated in IUGR infants.
- Neonates with IUGR exhibited lower prefeeding insulin levels on postnatal day 1.
Conclusions:
- Elevated maternal visfatin may be linked to pathologic conditions causing IUGR.
- Higher neonatal visfatin in IUGR could indicate future risk for insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes.
- Lower neonatal insulin levels in IUGR may suggest impaired beta-cell function or mass.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to investigate possible alterations in circulating levels of the adipocytokine visfatin in intrauterine growth-restricted and normal pregnancies, given that these groups differ considerably in fetal nutrition, body fat mass, and metabolic/endocrine mechanisms.
Methods:
Serum visfatin levels were prospectively measured by enzyme immunoassay in 40 mothers and their 40 singleton term fetuses and neonates on postnatal days 1 and 4. Twenty neonates had intrauterine growth restriction (birth weight < or = 3rd customized centile, adjusted for parameters that influence growth potential), and 20 were appropriate for gestational age.
Results:
Circulating maternal visfatin levels were significantly elevated in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction compared with control pregnancies with appropriate-for-gestational-age infants and negatively correlated with customized centiles in the group with intrauterine growth restriction. Postnatal day-1 and -4 visfatin levels were significantly higher in neonates with intrauterine growth restriction compared with neonates who were appropriate for gestational age. Postnatal-day-1 prefeeding insulin levels were significantly lower in neonates with intrauterine growth restriction.
Conclusions:
Pathologic conditions in pregnancy that lead to intrauterine growth restriction could be responsible for elevated maternal visfatin levels. Higher visfatin levels in neonates with intrauterine growth restriction may serve as an early marker with prognostic value for later development of insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes, whereas lower insulin levels may indicate reduced beta-cell mass and/or impaired beta-cell function.
