title: Serum vaspin levels in normal pregnancy in comparison with non-pregnant women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pregnancy represents a state of insulin resistance (IR). Vaspin (SERPINA12) is a novel insulin-sensitizing adipokine that might be implicated in endogenous glucose regulation. However, its role in pregnancy and its circulating levels have not been adequately studied. We aimed to evaluate serum vaspin levels in pregnancy and their correlation with known markers of IR.
  
  
  METHODS
  A group of 106 women (age 27.9±0.4 years) at the 24-30th week of gestation (pregnancy group) and another 106 age-matched healthy non-pregnant controls (control group) were included in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum glucose, insulin, vaspin, adiponectin, and lipid parameters were measured. The quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) was used as an insulin sensitivity index.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pregnant women had significantly higher body mass index (BMI), lipids, and serum insulin and lower serum glucose and vaspin levels than controls. Vaspin was positively correlated to adiponectin in both groups (P<0.001 and P<0.004 respectively) but was not correlated to BMI, serum insulin levels, or the QUICKI index in either group. Furthermore, vaspin was negatively correlated to lipid parameters (total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoproteins) in the pregnant but not in the non-pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaspin cannot serve as a marker of IR in either pregnant or non-pregnant women, although it is significantly correlated with adiponectin. On the other hand, vaspin might be useful as a surrogate marker of lipid metabolism in pregnancy if confirmed by subsequent studies.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 424 Military Hospital, 54629 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giomisi
authors.forename: Anargyros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kourtis
authors.forename: Konstantinos A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Toulis
authors.forename: Athanasios D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Anastasilakis
authors.forename: Kali G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Makedou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mouzaki
authors.forename: Spyridon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gerou
authors.forename: Elpida
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gavana
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Agorastos
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Giannoulis
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D015843:Serpins / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D008075:Lipoproteins, HDL; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C507339:SERPINA12 protein, human; D015843:Serpins