Can Betatrophin Predict the Risk of Preeclampsia?

Introduction: Preeclampsia, a hypertensive disease of pregnancy, is globally one of the primary causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. Betatrophin is shown to be a novel adipokine in pathophysiology of metabolic disorders. It plays a role in glucose and lipid metabolism and is associated with diabetes mellitus, obesity and metabolic syndrome. Aim: To analyse the relationship between betatrophin levels and the occurrence/severity of preeclampsia. Materials and Methods: A prospective cross-sectional study was carried out for a sample of 73 women diagnosed with preeclampsia (severe and mild) and 76 healthy pregnant controls matched for betatrophin levels, age, Body Mass Index (BMI), and gestational age. All data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 program (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Distribution of data was evaluated with Kolmogorov–Smirnov test. Results were presented as medians (interquartile range) except for normal parameters that are presented as mean±SD. The data with normal distribution were analysed with one-way ANOVA test whereas data without normal distribution were evaluated with Kruskal-Wallis test. Correlations between betatrophin and biochemical markers were assessed using Spearman’s correlation test. Results were evaluated with 95% confidence intervals and the level of significance was indicated as p