Decreased serum levels of kisspeptin in early pregnancy are associated with intra-uterine growth restriction and pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether pregnancies with development of subsequent pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth restriction are associated with altered levels of kisspeptin in maternal serum in the second trimester.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study of 16-20 week serum samples matched for duration of storage at -70 degrees C. Levels of kisspeptin were measured in serum from women with pregnancies with subsequent development of pre-eclampsia (n = 57), intra-uterine growth restriction (n = 118), and matched controls (n = 317).


RESULTS
Serum kisspeptin levels were significantly lower in those women who subsequently developed pre-eclampsia than in controls [median (quartile range) 1109 (449) vs 1188 (365) pg/mL, p = 0.029] and in those with intra-uterine growth restriction [1164 (386) vs 1188 (365) pg/mL, p = 0.016].


CONCLUSIONS
Kisspeptin levels are lower in maternal serum in the second trimester, in pregnancies associated with placental dysfunction. The differences in kisspeptin are modest, so although not forming a single screening marker in pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth restriction, measurement of kisspeptin may be useful in combination with other markers. Understanding the role of kisspeptin in the establishment of the placenta may further our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying placental function.
Armstrong
R Anne
RA
Centre for Reproductive Biology, Department of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK.
Reynolds
Rebecca M
RM
Leask
Rosemary
R
Shearing
Catherine H
CH
Calder
Andrew A
AA
Riley
Simon C
SC
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000097:blood; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D059648:Kisspeptins; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D015415:Biomarkers; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; C106628:KISS1 protein, human; D059648:Kisspeptins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins