Maternal and Cord Blood Adiponectin Multimeric Forms in Gestational

OBJECTIVEdTo analyze the relationship betweenmaternal adiponectin (mAdiponectin) and cord blood adiponectin (cbAdiponectin) multimeric forms (high molecular weight [HMW], mediummolecular weight [MMW], and low molecular weight [LMW]) in a cohort of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and normal glucose–tolerant (NGT) pregnant women. RESEARCH DESIGN ANDMETHODSdA total of 212 women with a singleton preg-nancy, 132 with NGT and 80 with GDM, and their offspring were studied. Maternal blood was obtained in the early third trimester and cord blood was obtained at delivery. Total adiponectin and the multimeric forms of adiponectin were determined in cord blood and maternal serum. Spearman rank correlation and stepwise linear correlation analysis were used to assess the re-lationship between cbAdiponectin levels and clinical and analytical parameters. RESULTSdNo differences in cbAdiponectin concentration or its multimeric forms were ob-served in the offspring of diabetic mothers compared with NGT mothers. The HMW-to-total adiponectin ratio was higher in cord blood than in maternal serum, whereas the MMW- and LMW-to-total adiponectin ratio was lower. Cord blood total and HMW adiponectin levels were positively correlated with birth weight and the ponderal index (PI), whereas cord blood MM