title: Adiponectin levels are reduced while markers of systemic inflammation and aortic remodelling are increased in intrauterine growth restricted mother-child couple.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationships between the adipocytokine levels, markers of inflammation, and vascular remodelling in pregnancies complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study. One hundred and forty pregnant patients were enrolled. Adiponectin, leptin, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and C reactive protein (CRP) were assessed in IUGR, small for gestational age (SGA), and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) mother-child couples at delivery. IUGR and SGA fetuses were defined as fetuses whose estimated fetal weight (EFW) was below 10th percentile for gestational age with and without umbilical artery (UA) Doppler abnormalities, respectively. Fetal aorta intima media thickness (aIMT) was evaluated by ultrasound in the same fetal groups. Data were analyzed by R (version 2.15.2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 37 IUGR mother-child couples, 33 SGA, and 70 AGA. Leptin, TNFα, IL-6, and CRP serum levels were higher in IUGR pregnant patients (P < 0.05). Adiponectin levels were significantly reduced in IUGR fetuses compared to SGA and AGA, while leptin, TNFα, and IL-6 levels were higher in IUGR group (P ≤ 0.05). Fetal aIMT was significantly higher in IUGR (P < 0.05) and in this group there was a negative correlation between aIMT and adiponectin/leptin ratio (A/L ratio) (P < 0.05) and between adiponectin and IL-6 levels (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, compared to SGA and AGA, IUGR fetuses had reduced circulating levels of adiponectin and elevated measures of aIMT and several inflammatory markers. Moreover, adiponectin levels were negatively correlated with aIMT in IUGR fetuses suggesting a possible causal link between reduced adiponectin and vessel remodelling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman's and Child's Health, Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Visentin
authors.affiliation: Medical and Surgical Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Annunziata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lapolla
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Experimental Clinical and Medical Science, DISM, University of Udine, Udine, Italy.
authors.forename: Ambrogio Pietro
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Londero
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cosma
authors.affiliation: Medical and Surgical Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariagrazia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dalfrà
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman's and Child's Health, Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Camerin
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Faggian
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Medicine, University of Padua, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plebani
authors.affiliation: Department of Woman's and Child's Health, Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit, University of Padua School of Medicine, Padua, Italy ; Maternal and Fetal Medicine Unit, Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Padua School of Medicine, Via Giustiniani No. 3, 35128 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Erich
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cosmi
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000328:Adult; D001011:Aorta / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D015415:Biomarkers; D015850:Interleukin-6; D020738:Leptin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein