Cord Blood Adropin as an early predictor for fetal Growth and Cardiac Complications in Infants of Diabetic Mothers

Abstract

Background: Adropin is a polypeptide involved in energy homeostasis, insulin response, and endothelial function, significantlyimpacting fetal development. Numerous studies suggest that it regulates fetal growth.Aim of the Work: The current study sought to investigate cord blood adropin levels in infants of diabetic mothers and tocorrelate them with fetal growth, and cardiac complications.Patients and Methods: Thirty infants of mothers with diabetes mellitus (IDM) and thirty infants whose mothers did nothave diabetes were enrolled in this comparative case-control study. Adropin levels were assayed by non-competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in the cord blood of all enrolled neonates. Birth weight and ponderal index were recorded.Echocardiographic measurements were conducted in the first three days of life.Results: Adropin levels were significantly lower in infants of diabetic mothers [median (IQR): 80.25 (55.5 – 99) pg/ml]compared to infants of non-diabetic mothers [ median (IQR): 718.25 (487-944)]. Growth-related metrics (including birthweight and ponderal index) and echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular end-systolic dimensions were negativelycorrelated with adropin levels.Conclusion: Cord blood adropin levels can be used as a foreteller of fetal growth and cardiac complications in infants ofdiabetic mothers.