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. 2023 Jul 19;26(3):427.
doi: 10.3892/etm.2023.12126. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Growth differentiation factor‑15 in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus and its relationship with microalbuminuria

Yinyun Gong  1 , Jin Shi  1 , Jing Li  2 , Lan Liu  3
Affiliations

Growth differentiation factor‑15 in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus and its relationship with microalbuminuria

Yinyun Gong et al. Exp Ther Med. .

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy-related complication and growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is involved in a number of diseases; therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the level and clinical significance of serum GDF-15 levels in patients with GDM. A total of 237 pregnant women at 20-24 weeks of gestation were selected and assigned to a normal pregnancy group (70 patients) and a GDM group (167 patients) according to the presence or absence of GDM. The general clinical data of the two groups were collected. Fasting plasma glucose, 1-h plasma glucose, 2-h plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, fasting insulin, 24-h urinary albumin and serum GDF-15 levels were measured. The results showed that the body mass index (BMI) of the GDM group was higher than that of the normal pregnancy group. Fasting plasma glucose, 1-h plasma glucose, 2-h plasma glucose, fasting insulin, glycated hemoglobin and GDF-15 levels and the positive rate of microalbuminuria were significantly higher in the GDM group compared with the normal pregnancy group. GDF-15 levels were positively correlated with BMI, fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance and fasting insulin levels. Logistic regression analysis suggested that elevated GDF-15 levels are an independent risk factor for microalbuminuria. In conclusion, serum GDF-15 levels are strongly associated with GDM and elevated GDF-15 levels are an independent risk factor for microalbuminuria. Serum GDF-15 may act as a novel biomarker for predicting microalbuminuria in GDM patients.

Keywords: gestational diabetes mellitus; growth differentiation factor-15; urinary microalbumin.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Comparison of serum GDF-15 levels between the normal pregnancy and GDM groups. GDF-15, growth differentiation factor-15; GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Correlations of GDF-15 levels with BMI, gestational age, FPG levels, 1-h PG levels, 2-h PG levels, glycosylated haemoglobin levels, HOMA-IR levels and fasting insulin levels in the GDM group. GDF-15, growth differentiation factor-15; BMI, body mass index; FPG, fasting plasma glucose; PG, plasma glucose; HOMA-IR, homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance; GDM, gestational diabetes mellitus.
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