Standardization of amniotic fluid leptin levels and utility in maternal overweight and fetal undergrowth.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Leptin is an adipokine that regulates energy homeostasis. The objective of this study was to establish a gestational age-specific standard for amniotic fluid leptin (AFL) levels and examine the relationship between AFL, maternal overweight and fetal growth restriction.

STUDY DESIGN:

Amniotic fluid was obtained at mid-gestation from singleton gravidas, and leptin was quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Amniotic fluid samples from 321 term pregnancies were analyzed. Clinical data, including fetal ultrasound measurements and maternal and infant characteristics, were available for a subset of patients (n=45).

RESULTS:

The median interquartile range AFL level was significantly higher at 14 weeks' gestation (2133 pg ml(-1) (1703 to 4347)) than after 33 weeks' gestation (519 pg ml(-1) (380 to 761), P trend<0.0001), an average difference of 102 pg ml(-1) per week. AFL levels were positively correlated with maternal pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) (r=0.36, P=0.03) adjusting for gestational age at measurement, but were not associated with fetal growth.

CONCLUSIONS:

AFL levels are higher at mid-gestation than at late gestation, and are associated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI.

• Authors: M Scott-Finley, J G Woo, M Habli, O Ramos-Gonzales, J F Cnota, Y Wang, B D Kamath-Rayne, A C Hinton, W J Polzin, T M Crombleholme, R B Hinton
• Journal: Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association (J Perinatol) Vol. 35 Issue 8 Pg. 547-52 (Aug 2015) ISSN: 1476-5543 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25927274 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Leptin

Topics

• Amniotic Fluid (metabolism)
• Birth Weight
• Body Mass Index
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Fetal Development
• Fetal Growth Retardation (metabolism)
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Infant, Newborn
• Leptin (analysis, standards)
• Linear Models
• Male
• Overweight (metabolism)
• Placenta (pathology)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Trimester, Second
• Pregnancy Trimester, Third