Glycosylated fibronectin as a first trimester marker for gestational diabetes

PURPOSE: To evaluate the performance of first trimester maternal serum glycosylated (Sambucus nigra lectin-reactive) fibronectin in prediction of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). METHODS: In this case–control study, first trimester maternal serum glycosylated fibronectin and fibronectin were measured in 19 women who consequently developed GDM and in 59 control women with normal pregnancy outcomes. Adiponectin was used as a reference protein to evaluate relation of glycoprotein to SNA-lectin-reactive assay format. Samples were taken during gestational weeks 9(+6)–11(+6). Data concerning GDM was obtained from the National Institute for Health and Welfare, which records the pregnancy outcomes of all women in Finland. RESULTS: There was no difference in maternal serum glycosylated fibronectin concentrations between women with consequent GDM [447.5 μg/mL, interquartile range (IQR) 254.4–540.9 μg/mL] and control women (437.6 μg/mL, IQR 357.1–569.1 μg/mL). Maternal serum fibronectin levels were significantly lower in GDM group (224.2 μg/mL, IQR 156.8–270.6 μg/mL), compared to the control group (264.8 μg/mL, IQR 224.6–330.6 μg/mL, p < 0.01). There was no difference in assay formats for adiponectin. CONCLUSION: There was no association between first trimester maternal serum glycosylated (SNA-reactive) fibronectin and GDM.