Maternal adiponectin and visfatin concentrations in normal and complicated pregnancies

To evaluate the role of adiponectin and visfatin in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia (PE) and how their concentrations correlate with the severity of the disease and neonatal outcomes.

A prospective case-control study was carried out in 52 preeclamptic and 28 healthy pregnant women during the third trimester. The maternal plasma concentrations of adiponectin and visfatin were determined. Neonatal outcomes were also recorded.

Mean maternal plasma adiponectin concentrations in healthy pregnant women did not differ significantly from those of mild PE and severe PE groups. The plasma adiponectin levels of PE patients with small for gestational age (SGA) and those without SGA did not differ significantly, but the median plasma visfatin concentration of patients with SGA fetus was significantly higher if the patient was preeclamptic (p = 0.036).

The severity of preeclampsia did not change the plasma levels of adiponectin and visfatin, but the median plasma visfatin concentration of patients with SGA fetuses were significantly higher if the patient was preeclamptic. Altered levels of adipocytokines strongly imply that the regulation of adipocytokines in PE is different and more complex compared to that in healthy pregnancy.