Predicting Maternal Serum Adiponectin and Leptin Level as Biomarkers of Pre-eclampsia: A Prospective Study

The aim of this study to determine maternal adiponectin and leptin levels as biomarkers of pre-eclampsia and compare adiponectin and leptin ratio.

This is a prospective study. The enrolled women were divided into two groups: first, study group (n = 60) comprised of women diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and second, control group (n = 60) comprised of age- and gestation-matched normotensive and nonproteinuric women.

Maternal serum adiponectin and leptin levels and their ratio were compared in pre-eclamptic (study group) and normotensive (control group) women.

Adiponectin levels were insignificantly higher in study group than control group. Leptin levels in study group were significantly higher than control group (p < 0.001). Adiponectin/leptin ratio was significantly lower in study group than controls (p < 0.0001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of serum leptin and serum adiponectin/leptin ratio as a biomarker of pre-eclampsia were 90%, 88.3%, 88.5%, 89.8% and 68.3%, 90%, 87.2%, 74%, respectively. Serum leptin levels and serum adiponectin/leptin ratio had cut-off point as 23.3 ng/ml and < 0.153, respectively. Accuracy of both serum leptin and adiponectin/leptin ratio was significant (p < 0.0001).

Maternal leptin-level estimation should be integrated into the investigations for pre-eclampsia, and a cut-off level of > 23.3 ng/ml should be used as a biomarker for diagnosis. Adiponectin-leptin ratio should be considered as a biomarker for PE and should be determined in all cases of pre-eclampsia, and a cut-off of < 0.153 should be used for diagnosis.