Association of low maternal levels of salusins with gestational diabetes mellitus and with small-for-gestational-age fetuses

ObjectivesTo evaluate maternal and cord serum concentrations of salusin-α and salusin-β in women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and with small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetuses.Study designPregnant women with GDM (n = 25), women with SGA (n = 20) and maternal age-matched normal healthy pregnant subjects (n = 25) participated in the study. Maternal serum and cord blood salusin-α and salusin-β levels at the time of birth were measured using ELISA, and their relation with metabolic parameters was also assessed.ResultsMean concentrations of maternal and fetal serum salusin-α in the GDM and SGA groups were significantly lower than those of the controls (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). Mean concentrations of maternal and cord blood salusin-β also decreased in both the GDM and the SGA groups in comparison to the control group (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The concentrations of maternal serum salusin-α and salusin-β were strongly positively correlated with the concentrations of cord blood salusin-α and salusin-β (R = 0.92, P < 0.001 and R = 0.94, P < 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsThe low levels of maternal serum salusin-α and salusin-β may have negative impact on metabolic disorders and vascular dysfunction.