Serum inhibin and leptin: Risk factors for pre-eclampsia?

BACKGROUND: Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are parts of the broader spectrum of hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy. This study aims to examine the association between serum inhibin and leptin levels and pre-eclampsia.

METHODS: This study included 98 consecutive cases of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia, together with their 98 pregnant controls, matched for age, gestational week and time period of delivery. Maternal venous blood samples were obtained within 24h before delivery. In addition to serum inhibin and leptin, birth order, multiple pregnancy, maternal age, maternal overweight/obesity, maternal education, maternal smoking and family history of diabetes/hypertension, were examined as risk factors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS: At the univariate analysis, serum inhibin and leptin levels were significantly higher in cases vs.

CONTROLS: Pre-eclampsia occurred more frequently in primiparous women, whereas overweight and obesity were also associated with pre-eclampsia. At the multivariate analysis, higher serum inhibin levels were associated with pre-eclampsia (multivariate OR=1.09, 95%CI: 1.03-1.17, p=0.004, increase per 0.1ng/mL). On the other hand, leptin was not independently associated with the occurrence of pre-eclampsia (multivariate OR=1.02, 95%CI: 0.95-1.09, p=0.631, increase per 10ng/mL).

CONCLUSIONS: Elevated serum inhibin levels seem to be associated with pre-eclampsia, reflecting placental dysfunction. Increased serum leptin levels may merely reflect an elevated maternal body mass index, which is a well-known risk factor for pre-eclampsia.