We show that maternal visfatin levels are significantly increased in PE patients. Furthermore, insulin sensitivity and inflammatory status independently predict serum visfatin levels.

Objective: Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious cardiovascular complication in pregnancy which is associated with an increased future metabolic and cardiovascular risk for mother and newborn. Recently, a paradoxical upregulation of the insulin-sensitizing and anti-atherogenic adipokine adiponectin has been shown in PE. Furthermore, high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin has been suggested as the biologically active form of this adipokine. Design and methods: HMW adiponectin and total adiponectin serum concentrations were quantified by ELISA in PE (nZ16) patients and pregnant control women without PE (nZ20). Furthermore, HMW adiponectin and total adiponectin were correlated to clinical and biochemical measures of renal function, glucose, and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation. Results: Median maternal HMW adiponectin and total adiponectin levels were significantly and independently upregulated almost twofold in PE when compared with controls. HMW adiponectin and total adiponectin correlated positively with creatinine and negatively with fasting insulin in univariate and multivariate analyses. Conclusions: We show that maternal HMW adiponectin and total adiponectin serum concentrations are significantly increased in PE and are positively associated with markers of insulin sensitivity and renal dysfunction. Adiponectin might be part of a physiological feedback mechanism improving insulin sensitivity and cardiovascular health in PE.

We demonstrate that maternal AFABP serum concentrations are significantly increased in PE. Furthermore, BMI and serum creatinine are independent predictors of circulating AFABP.

We showed that maternal esRAGE concentrations are significantly increased in patients with preeclampsia during pregnancy. Here, insulin sensitivity and inflammatory status independently predict serum esRAGE levels.

We found significantly lower adiponectin and higher leptin sera levels in women postpartum as compared to nonpregnant women. In addition, adipokine serum levels shortly after delivery were related to parameters of adiposity and glucose tolerance. We hypothesize that women in the post-delivery period exhibit biochemical features resembling metabolic syndrome, impaired glucose tolerance, and derangement of the adipokine system.