Ficolin-3/adiponectin ratio for the prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women

Aims/introduction: To establish that the ficolin-3/adiponectin ratio is a predictor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and is eligible for screening tests for GDM.

Materials and methods: A prospective cohort study of 86 pregnant women who developed GDM and 273 normal glucose tolerance participants was carried out. Maternal serum ficolin-3, adiponectin levels were investigated at 16-18 weeks of gestation using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Compared with the normal glucose tolerance group, the GDM group showed significantly higher levels of ficolin-3 and the ratio of ficolin-3/adiponectin; and decreased levels of adiponectin between 16-18 weeks of gestation (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The cut-off values for the ratio of ficolin-3/adiponectin (≥1.06; sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 96.5%) to discriminate the pregnant women who developed GDM from the non-diabetic cases were identified using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Using binary logistic regression analysis, ficolin-3, retinol-binding protein-4 and adiponectin, but not C-reactive protein, triglyceride and free fatty acids were shown as predictive factors for GDM.

Conclusions: The ratio of ficolin-3/adiponectin at 16-18 weeks of gestation was changed in pregnant women who subsequently developed GDM, and might provide effective early predicting and screening for GDM.