title: Circulating apelin levels are associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in women with previous gestational diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus (pGDM) are at high risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. In this study, we aimed to compare plasma apelin levels between women with and without pGDM, and to investigate the possible association of apelin with cardiometabolic risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 252 consecutive Caucasian women with GDM being included in a prospective postpartum follow-up protocol, 141 women eligible for the study protocol were enrolled. Control group consisted of 49 age- and body mass index-matched healthy women without pGDM. Circulating apelin, IL-6 and plasminogen activator inhibitor levels, and carotid intima media thickness (IMT) were measured. To evaluate carbohydrate intolerance, 75-g oral glucose tolerance test was performed. Fasting insulin and lipids were measured, and homeostasis model assessment index was calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma apelin levels were reduced in women with pGDM (p < 0.001). In multiple regression analysis, apelin was negatively associated with fasting (r (2) 0.090, β -0.273, p = 0.001) and post-load glucose (r (2) 0.061, β -0.187, p = 0.022), serum IL-6 (r (2) 0.082, β -0.234, p = 0.002), and carotid IMT (r (2) 0.057, β -0.168, p = 0.033).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggested that suppressed apelin levels were associated with increased cardiovascular risk in women with pGDM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Izmir University, Izmir, Turkey, barisakincimd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Akinci
authors.forename: Aygul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Celtik
authors.forename: Sunay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tunali
authors.forename: Sinan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Genc
authors.forename: Faize
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Secil
authors.forename: Mehmet Ali
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.forename: Firat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bayraktar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000073861:Apelin; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000097:blood*; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C115436:APLN protein, human; D000073861:Apelin; D015415:Biomarkers; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008055:Lipids; D015849:Plasminogen Inactivators