title: Plasma lipocalin-2 levels in pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE. To evaluate plasma levels of lipocalin-2, which is a novel adipokine associated with obesity and insulin resistance, in pregnant women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pregnant women with pre-pregnancy body mass index >25kg/m(2) (overweight; n=29) and body mass index <25kg/m(2) (n=27), whose gestational ages were between 24 and 28 weeks, as study groups and nonpregnant control women with body mass index <25kg/m(2) (n=29).
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma lipocalin-2 levels, fasting plasma glucose and fasting plasma insulin levels; homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index and fasting plasma glucose/fasting plasma insulin ratio were measured for each subject.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparisons among the groups and correlations for lipocalin-2 and the parameters of insulin resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma lipocalin-2 levels among the pregnant women were significantly higher than those of the control group (p<0.001 for both group comparisons). Lipocalin-2 levels were significantly higher in the group with pre-pregnancy body mass index >25kg/m(2) compared with the group with pre-pregnancy body mass index <25kg/m(2) (p=0.003). Lipocalin-2 levels were positively correlated with homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance index and fasting plasma insulin and negatively correlated with fasting plasma glucose/fasting plasma insulin ratio in both pregnant groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lipocalin-2 was found to be higher in pregnant women, especially when pre-pregnancy body mass index was >25kg/m(2) , and it was correlated with markers of insulin resistance.
authors.affiliation: Kirikkale University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Semra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cesur
authors.affiliation: Kirikkale University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Aykan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.affiliation: Kirikkale University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Volkan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Noyan
authors.affiliation: Kirikkale University, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kirikkale, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nevin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sagsoz
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood*; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins