title: Serum levels of the adipokine fibroblast growth factor-21 are increased in preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious cardiovascular complication in pregnancy, which is associated with an increased future metabolic and cardiovascular risk for mother and newborn. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 was recently introduced as a novel adipokine improving glucose metabolism in vitro and in vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated serum FGF-21 levels in patients with PE (n=51) as compared to healthy, age-matched controls (n=51) during and 6 months after pregnancy. Furthermore, association of FGF-21 with markers of renal function, glucose and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation, was elucidated in all individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median maternal FGF-21 serum concentrations adjusted for body mass index and gestational age at blood sampling were significantly, almost 3-fold increased in PE patients (309.6 ng/l) as compared to healthy, age-matched pregnant women (105.2 ng/l) (p<0.001). Furthermore, FGF-21 concentrations were independently and positively correlated with triglycerides whereas an independent and negative association was observed with glomerular filtration rate and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in pregnant women. Moreover, FGF-21 serum levels significantly decreased in former PE patients 6 months after pregnancy approaching levels found in control patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Maternal FGF-21 serum concentrations are significantly increased in PE during pregnancy. Furthermore, triglycerides, glomerular filtration rate, and LDL cholesterol are independent predictors of circulating FGF-21 in pregnant women.
authors.affiliation: University of Leipzig, Department of Obstetrics, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stepan
authors.forename: Karoline
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kley
authors.forename: Janka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hindricks
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kralisch
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jank
authors.forename: Wiebke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schaarschmidt
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schrey
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lössner
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kratzsch
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blüher
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stumvoll
authors.forename: Judit
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fasshauer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D005947:Glucose