妊娠妇女及新生儿脐血瘦素水平与体重,胰岛素,C—肽,胰岛 …

目的　探讨妊娠晚期妇女及新生儿脐血瘦素水平与孕妇体重及新生儿体重的关系 ,以及新生儿脐血瘦素水平与C 肽、胰岛素、胰岛素样生长因子 Ⅱ (IGF Ⅱ )等的关系。方法　采用放射免疫法测定 5 0例孕 37～ 38周正常妊娠妇女 (研究组 )及其新生儿、2 9例健康未妊娠妇女 (对照组 )的血瘦素水平 ,并同时测定新生儿脐血C 肽、胰岛素、IGF Ⅱ的水平等。结果　 (1)妊娠晚期妇女血瘦素水平为 (13.6 2± 3.6 8) μg/L ,明显高于对照组妇女的 (6 .6 0± 3.0 4) μg/L及新生儿脐血瘦素的 (8.0 5± 4.6 1) μg/L。 (2 )妊娠晚期妇女血瘦素水平与本身体重及体重指数明显相关 (r分别为 0 .33、0 .35 ,P<0 .0 5 ) ;妊娠晚期妇女血瘦素水平与新生儿体重无明显相关 (r=0 .10 ,P >0 .0 5 )。 (3)新生儿脐血瘦素水平与其体重、体重指数明显相关 (r分别为 0 .5 4、0 .49,P <0 .0 0 1) ;而与妊娠晚期妇女血瘦素水平无明显相关 (r=0 .19,P >0 .0 5 )。 (4 )对照组妇女血瘦素水平与其体重、体重指数明显正相关 (r分别为 0 .72、0 .78,P <0 .0 0 1)。 (5 )新生儿脐血C 肽为 (0 .86± 0 .35 ) μg/L ,胰岛素为 (8.49± 4.76 )mU/L ,IGF Ⅱ为 (0 .2 18± 0 .0 76 ) μg/L ;新生儿脐血瘦素水平与C 肽明显相关 (r=0 .37,P <0 .0 5 )     

正常妊娠和妊娠高血压综合征妇女血清瘦素水平的动态检测

目的　动态检测正常妊娠、妊娠高血压综合征 (妊高征 )妇女血清瘦素水平的变化特点。方法　采用放射免疫法测定 40例正常非妊娠妇女 (对照组 )以及 5 0例正常妊娠和 14例妊高征妇女(观察组 )孕 16～ 2 0、2 4～ 2 8、3 2～ 3 6周及分娩前的血清瘦素水平及其新生儿的脐血瘦素水平 ,同时测量身高、体重、血压及胎盘重量。结果　 ( 1)随着孕周的增加 ,观察组妇女血清瘦素水平呈上升趋势 ,其中妊高征妇女血清瘦素水平为 ( 14 1± 2 2 )～ ( 2 5 4± 2 7) μg/L ,较正常妊娠妇女的 ( 13 4± 3 0 )～( 2 1 4± 3 7) μg/L明显上升 (P <0 0 1) ,并持续至妊娠结束 ,而正常妊娠妇女血清瘦素水平在孕 2 8～3 6周时上升明显 ,孕 2 8周前及孕 3 6周后上升缓慢。 ( 2 )体重、体重指数与血清瘦素水平的相关性分析结果显示 ,正常妊娠、对照组妇女均呈显著性正相关 (r =0 478～ 0 63 9,P <0 0 5或P <0 0 1) ,而妊高征妇女无显著相关性 (r=0 0 3 5～ 0 3 79,P >0 0 5 )。( 3 )收缩压、舒张压、平均动脉压与血清瘦素水平的相关性分析结果显示 ,正常妊娠、孕 2 0周前的妊高征及对照组妇女无显著相关性 (r=0 113～0 498,P >0 0 5 ) ,而妊高征妇女孕 2 0周后呈显著正相关 (r=0 63 9～ 0 85 2 ,P <0 0 5 )     

妊娠期糖代谢异常孕妇血清瘦素水平及其与胰岛素和血糖关系的研究

目的　探讨妊娠期糖代谢异常孕妇血清瘦素水平及其与胰岛素和血糖的关系。方法　采用放射免疫法 ,测定 36例妊娠期糖代谢异常孕妇 (糖代谢异常组 )和 2 4例正常孕妇 (正常妊娠组 )的空腹及口服 50g葡萄糖后 3h的血清瘦素水平 ;采用电化学发光法测定两组孕妇的空腹血清胰岛素水平 ;采用低压液相色谱分析法测定两组孕妇的糖化血红蛋白 ;采用葡萄糖氧化酶法测定两组孕妇的口服 50g葡萄糖后 1h的血糖水平。结果　 (1 )糖代谢异常组孕妇血清瘦素水平为 (1 4 9± 4 3) μg/L ,正常妊娠组为 (1 0 0± 1 8) μg/L ,两组比较 ,差异有极显著性 (P <0 0 1 ) ;(2 )糖代谢异常组孕妇空腹血清胰岛素、糖化血红蛋白、服糖后 1h血糖水平分别为 (1 2 9± 4 3)mU/L、 (6 1± 1 1 ) %、(1 1 0±1 4)mmol/L ;正常妊娠组孕妇分别为 (8 6± 3 2 )mU/L、(4 5± 1 0 ) %、(7 8± 1 2 )mmol/L。糖代谢异常组孕妇血清瘦素水平与空腹血清胰岛素、糖化血红蛋白、服糖后 1h的血糖水平呈明显的正相关关系 ,相关系数 (r)分别为 0 835、0 758、0 561。结论　妊娠期糖代谢异常孕妇空腹血清瘦素水平升高 ,其瘦素水平的高低与空腹血清胰岛素及血糖水平相关     

瘦素及胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ与胎儿生长受限的关系

目的　探讨瘦素及胰岛素样生长因子Ⅰ (IGF Ⅰ )与胎儿生长受限 (FGR)的关系。方法　采用放射免疫法和免疫放射法测定 30例FGR孕妇 (FGR组 )和 80例正常孕妇 (对照组 )的血清及脐血瘦素、IGF Ⅰ水平 ,并对其结果进行相关性分析。结果　FGR组血清瘦素水平与对照组比较 ,差异无显著性 (P >0 0 5 ) ;FGR组血清IGF Ⅰ水平明显低于对照组 (P <0 0 5 ) ,FGR组脐血瘦素、IGF Ⅰ水平均明显低于对照组 (P <0 0 5 ,P <0 0 1 ) ;两组孕妇血清瘦素、IGF Ⅰ水平与脐血瘦素、IGF Ⅰ水平无相关性 (r =0 1 85 ,r =0 2 6 2 ,P >0 0 5 ) ;脐血瘦素水平与新生儿出生体重呈正相关 (r =0 36 4 ,P <0 0 5 ) ,与胎盘重量无相关性 (r =0 1 94 ,P >0 0 5 ) ;脐血IGF Ⅰ水平与新生儿出生体重及胎盘重量呈正相关 (r =0 4 75 ,r =0 4 86 ,P <0 0 5 )。结论　FGR孕妇脐血瘦素水平降低与胎儿脂肪沉积减少有关 ,脐血瘦素水平可作为预测胎儿体重的一项指标。血清与脐血IGF Ⅰ的分泌相对独立 ,提示IGF Ⅰ不能通过胎盘屏障。脐血IGF Ⅰ水平降低 ,可能是导致FGR的病因之一。     

早发子痫前期血清T-钙粘蛋白水平与子宫动脉血流关系研究

目的探讨早发子痫前期血清T-钙粘蛋白(T-cadherin)水平与子宫动脉血流的关系。方法选择2017年7月至2018年1月于中国医科大学附属盛京医院门诊及住院检查的孕28~34周单胎妊娠孕妇77例,其中39例子痫前期孕妇为研究组,38例正常孕妇为对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测两组孕妇血清T-cadherin水平,抽血当日行彩色多普勒超声检测两组孕妇的双侧子宫动脉搏动指数(PI)、阻力指数(RI)及收缩期与舒张期血流速度比值(S/D)。比较两组孕妇血清T-cadherin水平的差异及血清T-cadherin水平与子宫动脉血流各个指标间的相关性。记录研究组孕妇分娩时的孕周及新生儿体重,研究T-cadherin水平与妊娠结局的关系。结果研究组T-cadherin为(3.93±0.99)μg/L,低于对照组的(5.03±0.73)μg/L(P0.01)。研究组子宫动脉S/D、PI及RI值明显高于对照组(P0.01)。相关性分析显示,研究组血清T-cadherin水平与子宫动脉PI值间r=-0.715,P0.001,与子宫动脉RI值间r=-0.725,P0.001,与子宫动脉S/D值间r=-0.63,P0.001;对照组孕妇血清T-cadherin的水平与子宫动脉PI、RI及S/D之间无相关性(P0.05)。研究组孕妇血清T-cadherin的水平与分娩孕周之间r=0.605,P0.001,与新生儿体重之间r=0.671,P0.001。结论早发子痫前期患者血清T-cadherin与子宫动脉血流呈负相关,并与早发子痫前期发病有关,可能在子痫前期的发病中处于主导地位,且与疾病进展和妊娠结局相关。     

妊娠期糖尿病母儿血清瘦素水平及胎盘瘦素的表达

目的　探讨妊娠期糖尿病 (gestationaldiabetesmellitus ,GDM)母儿血清瘦素水平及胎盘瘦素表达的变化。　方法　采用放射免疫法 (RIA)检测 2 4例GDM母儿和 2 6例正常母儿血清胰岛素和瘦素水平 ,采用逆转录 聚合酶链反应 (RT PCR)技术检测胎盘瘦素mRNA的表达水平。　结果　 (1)GDM组孕妇血清瘦素和胰岛素水平分别为 (18.6 2± 7.86 ) μg/L和 (13.4 7± 5 .11)mIU/L ,对照组分别为 (14 .2 1± 7.5 9) μg/L和 (8.98± 4 .2 3)mIU/L ,两组比较差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 5 )。 (2 )GDM组脐血瘦素和胰岛素水平分别为 (17.93± 6 .14 ) μg/L和 (19.2 6± 6 .73)mIU/L ,对照组分别为 (7.2 7± 4 .32 ) μg/L和 (9.6 7± 4 .89)mIU/L ,两组比较差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。 (3)两组孕妇血清瘦素与胰岛素水平之间无相关关系 (r =0 .2 2 ,P >0 .0 5 ) ,而脐血血清瘦素与胰岛素水平之间呈正相关关系(r =0 .5 3,P <0 .0 1)。 (4 )GDM组胎盘瘦素mRNA表达水平为 (1.92± 0 .0 5 ) ,对照组为 (0 .97± 0 .0 2 ) ,两组比较差异有显著性 (P <0 .0 1)。　结论　胰岛素及瘦素抵抗可能是妊娠期糖尿病的发病原因之一 ,胰岛素对调节胎盘瘦素的表达起重要作用。     

妊娠高血压综合征患者血清sICAM-1含量测定及其在妊高征发病中的作用

目的　探讨可溶性细胞间粘附分子 1(soluble intercellular adhesion molecule- 1,s ICAM- 1)在妊娠高血压综合征 (简称妊高征 )发病中的作用。　方法　应用酶联免疫吸附法 (EL ISA)测定 6 5例妊高征患者 (妊高征组 ,包括轻度 15例 ,中度 2 4例 ,重度 2 6例 )及 2 5例同期正常妊娠孕妇(对照组 )外周血清中 s ICAM- 1的含量 ;应用化学发光酶联免疫分析法测定两组孕妇血清中白细胞介素 1(interleukin- 1,L I- 1β)及肿瘤坏死因子 (tum or necrosing factor alpha,TNF- α)含量 ;并记录新生儿体重及妊娠结局。　结果　轻、中、重度妊高征组母血清中 s ICAM- 1的含量 [(36 8.5 6± 6 2 .81) μg/L、(6 0 6 .6 3± 10 5 .0 4 ) μg/ L、(85 9.36± 2 0 0 .92 ) μg/ L]均显著高于对照组 [(2 36 .6 9± 96 .33) μg/ L](P<0 .0 5 ,P<0 .0 1,P<0 .0 1) ,中、重度妊高征组母血清中 IL- 1β及 TNF- α的含量均显著高于对照组(P<0 .0 5 ,P<0 .0 1) ;中、重度妊高征组 s ICAM- 1的水平与相应 IL- 1β及 TNF- α的水平呈显著的正相关 (r=0 .6 97,P<0 .0 1;r=0 .74 6 ,P<0 .0 1)。重度妊高征组伴胎儿生长受限 (fetal growth restric-tion,FGR)者血中 s ICAM- 1含量显著高于同组其他孕妇之含量 (P<0 .0 5 )。妊高征组     

孕期体重增加对妊娠晚期孕妇血脂影响及其与新生儿发育相关性研究

目的探讨孕期体重增加对孕妇孕晚期血脂水平的影响,及其与新生儿体重指数之间的相关性。方法收集2012年1月至2013年3月在中国医科大学附属盛京医院分娩、孕前体重指数正常孕妇共计566例。按孕妇孕期体重增加分成3组:11.5 kg组,11.5~16.0 kg组,16.0 kg组。产前1周检测各组产妇血清三酰甘油、胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白、低密度脂蛋白水平。收集新生儿资料信息。结果 11.5 kg组新生儿出生体重、身长、头围与孕妇妊娠晚期血清三酰甘油水平呈正相关(r=0.286,P0.01;r=0.214,P=0.011;r=0.241,P0.01),与高密度脂蛋白水平呈负相关(r=-0.388,P0.01;r=-0.229,P0.01;r=-0.273,P0.01)。16 kg组新生儿出生体重与孕妇妊娠晚期血清三酰甘油水平呈正相关(r=0.210,P=0.01)。11.5~16.0 kg组新生儿身长及出生体重与母体孕晚期血脂水平未见明显相关性。结论母体妊娠期体重增加过多,孕晚期三酰甘油水平升高,可能与巨大儿发生相关。     

孕前体重指数及孕期体重增长对妊娠结局的影响

目的　探讨孕前体重指数及孕期体重增长对妊娠结局的影响。　方法　将 1998年 6月至1999年 6月间在我院行产前检查并住院分娩的 32 2 5例足月单胎初产妇按孕前体重指数分为低于标准体重、标准体重和高于标准体重三组 ,并随访其妊娠结局。　结果　 (1)高于标准体重组孕产妇的妊娠并发症发生率 (32 .1% ) ,明显高于标准体重组 (18.0 % )和低于标准体重组 (2 0 .0 % ) ,具有统计学意义(P值均 <0 .0 5 ) ,而低于标准体重组和标准体重组孕产妇间的妊娠并发症发生率则差异无显著性 (P>0 .0 5 )。(2 )新生儿体重与三组孕妇的孕期体重增长具有直线相关关系 (相关系数 r分别为 0 .5 96 ,0 .32 8和 0 .2 49,P值均 <0 .0 1)。(3)低于标准体重组和标准体重组孕妇孕期体重增长≥ 18kg时 ,妊娠高血压综合征的发病率明显增加 (10 .5 % ) ;而高于标准体重组孕妇孕期体重增长≥ 9kg时 ,其妊娠高血压综合征发病率就显著增加 (2 0 .2 % )。　结论　 (1)孕前体重指数及孕期体重增长是妊娠并发症发生的重要影响因素。(2 )孕妇的体重增长对新生儿的体重有重要的影响作用 ;3.孕前体重指数不超过2 4,孕期体重增长适宜者 ,可获得良好的妊娠过程和结局。     

妊高征患者血清瘦素水平变化的研究

目的 :探讨妊娠高血压综合征 (妊高征 )患者血清瘦素 (leptin)水平的变化及其与妊高征发病的关系。方法 :采用放射免疫分析法测定了 36例妊高征患者 (妊高征组 )和 30例正常孕妇 (正常妊娠组 )产前及产后血清瘦素水平。结果 :中、重度妊高征患者产前瘦素水平为 15 .19± 6 .74 ng/ ml明显高于正常妊娠组的 10 .11± 2 .80 ng/ m l(P<0 .0 5 ) ;轻度妊高征组患者产前瘦素水平 12 .77± 4 .6 8ng/ ml与正常妊娠组比较 ,差异无显著性 (P>0 .0 5 )。妊高征患者产后瘦素水平为 5 .91± 2 .6 8ng/ ml,与产前 14 .5 6± 6 .30 ng/ ml相比 ,差异显著 (P<0 .0 5 )。妊高征组产后瘦素水平与正常妊娠组 5 .74± 2 .38ng/ ml相比 ,差异无显著性。结论 :妊高征患者血清瘦素水平升高 ,与妊高征的发生有关     

Leptin and pre-eclampsia in black African parturients

Objective To measure serum concentrations of the hormone leptin during late pregnancy in Black African women with pre-eclampsia, healthy normotensive pregnant women as controls and healthy normotensive non-pregnant women; secondly, to explore the relationship between leptin and obesity.
Design Observational, cross sectional study.
Setting Antenatal clinics, antenatal wards, gynaecology out patient and family planning clinics of a tertiary hospital, Durban, South Africa.
Population Pregnant and non-pregnant Black African women.
Method Serum leptin was measured by a homologous radio-immunoassay technique. Simple anthropometric parameters were used to explore the relationship between leptin and obesity. In each group, leptin levels were compared between obese (body mass index,  BMI ≥ 30 kg m⁻²  ) and lean women.
Main outcome measures Serum leptin concentrations, anthropometric parameters, mean blood pressures and proteinuria.
Results There were 68 women with pre-eclampsia, 92 healthy normotensive pregnant women (controls) and 32 healthy normotensive non-pregnant women. Serum leptin levels were higher in pregnant compared with non-pregnant women [26.66 (1.96) and 25.89 (1.65) vs 17.97 (2.11) ng/mL,   P = 0.02  ]. Weight and BMI showed the greatest correlation with leptin both in pregnant (   r = 0.61 and r = 0.58, respectively  ) and non-pregnant women (   r = 0.74 and 0.79, respectively  ). There was no significant difference in the mean concentrations of leptin between women with and those without pre-eclampsia [26.66 (1.96) vs 25.89 (1.65) ng/mL, respectively,   P = 0.95  ].
Conclusion Pregnancy is a hyperleptinaemic state. There is no difference in serum leptin levels between Black African women with pre-eclampsia and healthy normotensive pregnant women. Serum leptin concentration is largely determined by the degree of adiposity.     

Serum leptin levels in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Leptin is an important weight regulator and during pregnancy leptin is not only synthesized in adipose tissue but also in the placenta. AIM: To examine changes in serum leptin levels in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus during pregnancy and post delivery in relation to concomitant changes in maternal body weight, birth weight, glycemic control, and blood pressure. METHODS: Non-fasting serum leptin from 45 women with type 1 diabetes mellitus were studied consecutively throughout pregnancy and 3 months post partum. RESULTS: Serum leptin was positively associated with HbA1c in week 18, 22 and 30 (r=0.38, 0.41, and 0.54, respectively, p<0.05, adjusted for body weight). Moreover, serum leptin correlated positively with maternal body weight and BMI (0.4525 kg/m2), the changes during pregnancy and the level of serum leptin were significantly greater compared to lean women (p<0.05). The women with low ambulatory blood pressure (lower tertile, mean arterial blood pressure <83.4 mmHg) showed the lowest level of serum leptin throughout pregnancy and it changed significantly differently from the women with higher blood pressure (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Changes in serum leptin levels of pregnant women with type 1 diabetes mellitus were associated with parallel changes in maternal body weight and glycemic control. Women with low blood pressure had the lowest serum leptin levels throughout pregnancy.     

正常妊娠妇女及新生儿脐血瘦素水平测定及其临床意义

目的 探讨正常妊娠妇女及新生儿脐血瘦素水平及其临床意义。方法 采用放射免疫法测定对照组的１０例正常未妊娠妇女、观察组的６３例妊娠妇女（其中早孕３１例，中孕１０例，晚孕２２例）、２７例分娩妇女、１８例产后妇女的血甭瘦素水平，及１８例新生儿脐血的瘦素水平。同时测定两组妇女的身高、体重、空腹胰岛素及血脂水平，并分析其与瘦素之间的关系。结果 ⑴妊娠妇女从孕中其开始，空腹胰岛素、胆固醇、甘油三酯明显升高，临     

Leptin and gestational weight gain: relation of maternal and cord blood leptin to birth weight

OBJECTIVES: To determine maternal serum leptin concentrations throughout normal pregnancy, as well as cord blood leptin concentration, and to correlate serum and cord blood leptin levels with gestational weight gain and birth weight, respectively. METHODS: This study comprised 52 normal pregnant women, including 11 in the first, 19 in the second, and 22 in the third trimester, in addition to 30 healthy, fertile nonpregnant women of comparable age and with normal body mass index (BMI). Maternal blood and fetal cord blood samples were withdrawn from the normal, healthy pregnant women and the nonpregnant controls for the determination of serum leptin by a specific radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Maternal serum leptin concentrations in the first trimester did not differ significantly from those of healthy nonpregnant control subjects, whereas leptin concentrations in the second and third trimesters were elevated significantly. There were significant positive correlations between maternal serum leptin concentration and gestational age, gestational weight, and BMI. Cord blood leptin concentration correlated positively with birth weight and third trimester maternal serum leptin. CONCLUSION: Elevated serum leptin is associated with maternal adiposity and risk of developing large for gestational age infants.     

The utility of serum leptin and follicular fluid leptin, estradiol, and progesterone levels during an in vitro fertilization cycle

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate serum and follicular fluid leptin, estradiol, and progesterone levels during in vitro fertilization. METHODS: Prospective observational study measuring serum levels at six points during the IVF cycle and follicular fluid at the time of retrieval. RESULTS: Serum leptin and estradiol levels both significantly increased for the individual patients during the IVF stimulation process. None of the leptin levels differed based on pregnancy outcome. BMI significantly correlated with all leptin levels. Follicular fluid estradiol correlated with serum estradiol only in pregnant patients (r = 0.97, p<0.01) and was unrelated in non-pregnant patients (r=-0.15, p=0.81). CONCLUSION: Serum and follicular leptin levels are highly correlated. Leptin levels increase during the IVF cycle and vary between patients based on maternal BMI, but do not correlate with other serum hormone levels or pregnancy outcome. Pregnancy outcome success was reflected in the relationship between follicular fluid and serum levels of estradiol, independent of leptin levels.     

Independent association between leptin and blood pressure during third trimester in normal and gestational diabetic pregnancies

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationship between plasma leptin concentration during third trimester of pregnancy and blood pressure, independent of body mass index at examination and other potential confounders. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was performed including 95 women (61 non-diabetic women, 34 women with gestational diabetes (GD)) in their third trimester of pregnancy. The relationship between plasma leptin and blood pressure was investigated using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Independent of body mass index (BMI), leptin was positively correlated to systolic (P = 0.024) and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.002). Stepwise linear regression identified leptin as the only variable independently associated with systolic blood pressure (P = 0.003), while leptin (P < 0.001) and age (P = 0.024) were the only variables independently correlated to diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports for the first time that, independent of BMI at examination, presence of GD or other confounders, plasma leptin is positively correlated with blood pressure in pregnant women.     

Cerebrospinal fluid leptin levels in preeclampsia: relation to maternal serum leptin levels

BACKGROUND: To determine whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and circulating levels of leptin differ between women with preeclampsia and women who had an uncomplicated pregnancy. METHODS: Maternal serum and CSF leptin concentrations obtained in the third trimester of the gestation were compared in 16 women with mild preeclampsia and 23 normotensive pregnant women who underwent cesarean section. Before administering local anesthetic for spinal anesthesia, 2 mL CSF and 4 mL venous blood sample were taken and were stored at -30 degrees C until serum and CSF leptin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Mean CSF leptin concentrations were not significantly different between the two groups (preeclampsia 9.7 +/- 4.2 ng/mL, normotensive 13.6 +/- 4.3 ng/mL, p = 0.952). Similarly, mean serum leptin concentrations were similar between the two groups (mild preeclampsia 21.7 +/- 7.1 ng/mL, normotensive 18.3 +/- 6.7 ng/mL, p = 0.698). CSF leptin levels are inversely related to the serum leptin concentrations in preeclamptic patients (r = -0.87, p = 0.000). An inverse relationship was also detected between CSF and serum leptin levels in normotensive pregnant subjects (r = -0.66, p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: CSF and serum leptin levels were similar in patients with preeclampsia and normotensive pregnant women. However, the CSF leptin was negatively correlated with the serum leptin concentrations in preeclamptic and normotensive control subjects, suggesting that leptin enters the brain by a saturable transport system. Further work is needed to confirm our findings.     

Serum heat shock protein 70 levels are decreased in normal human pregnancy

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are primarily known to be intracellular proteins with molecular chaperone and cytoprotective functions. However, Hsp60 and Hsp70 have been found in the serum and plasma of healthy non-pregnant individuals. We aimed to compare serum Hsp70 concentrations in healthy pregnant women with those of healthy non-pregnant women and to determine factors influencing serum Hsp70 levels in normal pregnancy. One hundred and seventy six healthy pregnant women with uncomplicated pregnancies (age, 17-44 years; gestational age, 20-41 weeks) and 81 healthy, age-matched non-pregnant women (age, 22-40 years) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Serum Hsp70 concentrations were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and were significantly lower in healthy pregnant women than in healthy non-pregnant women (median (25-75 percentile): 0.29 (0.20-0.35)ng/ml versus 1.27 (0.86-1.72)ng/ml; p<0.001). In healthy pregnant women, there was a statistically significant negative correlation between maternal age and serum Hsp70 concentration (Spearman R=-0.35; p<0.001) and a significant positive correlation between gestational age and serum Hsp70 level (Spearman R=0.35; p<0.001). The capacity of extracellular Hsp70 to elicit innate and adaptive proinflammatory immune responses might be harmful in pregnancy and lead to immune rejection of the fetal semi-allograft. We hypothesize that decreased circulating Hsp70 levels are due to unknown regulatory mechanisms aimed at maintaining immune tolerance in pregnancy. In conclusion, serum Hsp70 concentrations are decreased in normal human pregnancy; however, further studies are needed to explain the observed differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women.