Detection of gestational diabetes mellitus by circulating plasma and serum microRNAs: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background and aimsThe diagnostic performance of microRNAs (miRNAs), which have recently emerged as a potential early diagnostic tool capable of detecting gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in its early stages, has yet to be systematically investigated. This meta-analysis aims to investigate the diagnostic utility of circulating plasma or serum miRNAs in detecting GDM patients.MethodsEligible studies were included and assessed for risk of bias with the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool. A bivariate meta-analysis using the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model was performed to estimate the pooled diagnostic value of miRNAs.ResultsTwelve studies (32 index tests) cumulating a total of 1768 patients were included in the present study. The pooled sensitivity of miRNAs was 74.5% (95% confidence interval CI]: 63.7–82.9) and the pooled specificity was 84.1% (95% CI: 76.8–89.3). The overall area under the curve was 0.869 (95% CI: 0.818–0.907) with a relatively narrow 95% confidence region and a wide 95% prediction region.ConclusionmiRNAs may emerge as a promising diagnostic tool in detecting GDM. Further cross-sectional cohort studies with larger sample sizes and more heterogeneous populations, and studies evaluating the accuracy of multiple miRNAs in diagnosing GDM are required to confirm our findings.