Maternal Serum Level of Adiponectin and Macroscopic Changes of Placentae in Preeclampsia

¹Biochemistry Department, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Egypt

²Pathology Department, Medical Research Institute, University of Alexandria, Egypt

³Department of gynecology and obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Benha, Egypt

^*Corresponding Author

Magda A. Megahed

Medical Research Institute,

Alexandria University

165, Elhorreya Avenue, Hadara, Alexandria

Egypt

Tel: +203 4282331, +203 4282373

Fax: +203 4283719

Email: magdamegahed@hotmail.com

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to measure the serum level of adiponectin in preeclamptic Egyptian pregnant women and find the possible correlations of maternal adiponectin level to measured insulin resistance in such case and to macroscopic features of placentae included in this study.

The study population consisted of 30 preeclamptic patients and 30 matched healthy pregnant women during the third trimester.

The results revealed that preeclamptic women were more insulin resistant with a significant decrease in adiponectin level compared with healthy controls. Correlation analysis presented a significant negative correlation between adiponectin levels and measured insulin resistance among preeclamptic women. Pregnant women with preeclampsia had lower placental weight and decreased number of cotyledons with marginal insertion of umbilical cord. The present study did not show any correlations between adiponectin levels versus macroscopic features of placentae among preeclamptic mothers.

It can be concluded that preeclamptic mothers are more insulin resistant, which was reflected through increased HOMA-IR value; this relationship postulates that insulin resistance may be one of the casual pathways of preeclampsia. Hypoadiponectinemia may be one of the possible etiologies of preeclampsia. Preeclamptic placentae exhibited definite morphological changes which may be attributed to the vascular insufficiency of placenta.

Keywords: Adiponectin, Preeclampsia, Insulin resistance, Placenta

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