Abstract
Introduction
This study aimed to examine maternal serum aquaporin 9 levels in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus and to compare them with non-diabetic pregnant women.
Methods
Forty-one pregnant women between 37 and 39 weeks of gestation complicated with gestational diabetes mellitus and 39 non-diabetic pregnant women at similar gestational weeks without additional obstetric complications were included in this cross-sectional study. Maternal serum aquaporin 9 levels and leptin levels of the cases were measured.
Results
Maternal serum leptin and aquaporin 9 levels in pregnant women with GDM were found to be significantly higher than in the control group (p < .001). In the study group, first-minute Apgar scores were significantly lower and birth weight significantly higher (p = .001 and .005, respectively). A weak but significant positive correlation between aquaporin 9 levels and maternal body mass index (r = 0.279, p = .012), birth weight (r = 0.433, p < .001), and hemoglobin A1c (r = 0.354, p = .001) levels was detected. A significant positive correlation was detected between maternal serum aquaporin 9 levels and leptin levels (r = 0.331, p = .003).
Conclusion
The increased aquaporin 9 levels detected in cases with gestational diabetes mellitus might be a marker of the poor maternal metabolic environment specific to diabetes and might contribute to the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).