Serum Betatrophin: What It Shows and How It Alters in Gestational Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Gestational diabetes mellitus is defined as diabetes mellitus diagnosed during the second or third trimester of pregnancy and not clearly associated with underlying type 1 or type 2 diabetes. According to the most recent data from the International Diabetes Federation, gestational diabetes mellitus affects 16.7% of all pregnant women, and approximately 21.1 million babies are born to pregnant women with diabetes each year. There are many factors that contribute to the development of gestational diabetes, but the most common is beta-cell dysfunction and increased insulin resistance during pregnancy. In both animal and human studies, betatrophin has been found to be a major factor in beta cell growth and enlargement and has been associated with an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. While the effect of betatrophin on beta-cell proliferation in humans is still unknown, there has been growing interest in determining circulating levels of betatrophin in patients to elucidate its putative function in metabolic diseases. Several studies have shown that betatrophin concentrations are increased in both maternal serum and cord blood in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus. Although there are some differences between studies, most likely due to the small sample sizes and wide range of detection rates for betatrophin levels, betatrophin is a promising diagnostic marker for gestational diabetes mellitus. Further research may help us to better understand the role of betatrophin in the pathophysiology of gestational diabetes mellitus.