Role of Adiponectin in Matching of Fetal and Placental Weight in Mothers with Type 1 Diabetes

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association of fetal hormones with placental growth and fetal:placental weight ratio (FPI) in pregnancies complicated by maternal diabetes.

Research Design and Methods: Prospective study using umbilical venous blood samples taken at birth from 122 offspring of mothers with type 1 diabetes (OT1DM) and 46 controls.

Results: Placental weight (p=0.009) and gestation-adjusted birthweight (p<0.001) were increased in OT1DM, but FPI was unaltered (p=0.33). Placental weight correlated with birthweight (p<0.001) and cord leptin (p<0.001) in controls and OT1DM, with further relationships to cord insulin, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, triceps and subscapular thickness in OT1DM. FPI was associated with adiponectin in both groups, even after adjustment for confounders.

Conclusions: Placental and fetal growth show a parallel increase in mothers with type 1 diabetes. The possible role of adiponectin in matching of fetal and placental growth merits further study.