Ficolin‐3/adiponectin ratio for the prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant women

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To establish that the ficolin‐3/adiponectin ratio is a predictor for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and is eligible for screening tests for GDM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study of 86 pregnant women who developed GDM and 273 normal glucose tolerance participants was carried out. Maternal serum ficolin‐3, adiponectin levels were investigated at 16–18 weeks of gestation using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Compared with the normal glucose tolerance group, the GDM group showed significantly higher levels of ficolin‐3 and the ratio of ficolin‐3/adiponectin; and decreased levels of adiponectin between 16–18 weeks of gestation (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The cut‐off values for the ratio of ficolin‐3/adiponectin (≥1.06; sensitivity 90.9%, specificity 96.5%) to discriminate the pregnant women who developed GDM from the non‐diabetic cases were identified using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Using binary logistic regression analysis, ficolin‐3, retinol‐binding protein‐4 and adiponectin, but not C‐reactive protein, triglyceride and free fatty acids were shown as predictive factors for GDM. CONCLUSIONS: The ratio of ficolin‐3/adiponectin at 16–18 weeks of gestation was changed in pregnant women who subsequently developed GDM, and might provide effective early predicting and screening for GDM.