Serum levels of leptin, adiponectin and resistin in relation to clinical characteristics in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.

Background Alterations in serum adipokines in preeclampsia remain vague. We investigated the roles of leptin, adiponectin and resistin and their relationships with clinical characteristics in normotensive and preeclamptic patients. Methods A case-control study was carried out in a cohort of 74 preeclampsia(PE) and 79 healthy pregnant women. Serum levels of leptin, adiponectin and resistin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The mean body mass index(BMI), the serum leptin and resistin levels were significantly higher in the PE group than in the control group ( p < 0.001). The resistin/creatinine ratio was also higher in the PE group than in the control group ( p = 0.018). No significant difference was observed in the serum adiponectin level between both groups. Serum leptin levels were positively correlated with BMI ( r = 0.301, p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with newborn birth weight ( r = − 0.435, p < 0.001). Serum resistin levels were also negatively correlated with birth weight ( r = − 0.229, p = 0.005) but were unrelated to BMI. Logistic regression showed that BMI ≥ 28 and serum leptin levels were independent factors of PE. Leptin was a potential mediator between BMI and PE ( p < 0.001), and the mediating effect accounted for 22.54% of the total effect. Conclusions Leptin, resistin, and obesity play important roles in the onset of PE. Leptin and resistin may have some impacts on the fetal growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]